Les Inrockuptibles placed Bertrand Cantat, who beat actress Marie Trintignant to death in 2003, on its front page last week.
In a statement, it said its choice was "debatable", and expressed "sincere regrets" to "those who felt hurt".
France's Elle magazine responded with a editorial tribute to Ms Trintignant.
Under the headline "In the name of Marie", it said its words were for "all women victims of violence" carried out by men.
Cantat, who was released from prison in 2007, is trying to relaunch his music career with a new solo album.
