Gervais' 'crucifixion' Photo Rejected By Magazine

Ricky Gervais missed out on the chance to land a coveted cover feature inRolling Stone magazine after submitting a photograph of himself in a crucifixion pose with the word 'atheist' painted on his chest.

The Office creator was asked to send in an image to accompany a featureand he chose a picture of himself topless, wearing a crown of thorns, with fake blood dripping down his face, and a microphone stand placed behind his outstretched arms.

Editors at the publication requested an alternative picture in case theimage, which resembles Christ on the cross, was too shocking for readers- but Gervais stood his ground and the magazine carried a photo of Rihanna on the cover instead.

In a blog entry for the Huffington Post, Gervais writes, "I've wanted to do this picture for about 20 years. Finally did it this week with photographer Rich Hardcastle. And this was done for Rolling Stone magazine butI think they decided it was a little strong for their demographic. "To be fair when I described it to them over the phone weeks before theshoot they said they'd like an alternative, if I wanted a front cover.

When it came to it I decided that I didn't want to do an alternative, as Iknew they would go with that.

I was right.

They definitely would have gone with the alternative, but since I didn't give them one they went with Rihanna.

Ha Ha.

Fair enough.

I stand by my decision". Gervais also shows readers another controversial recent photo in which he's posing as a suicidal clown with a gun in his mouth.