GQ Editor on 'Glee' Photo Shoot: 'They're Old Enough to Do What They Want'
GQ editor in chief Jim Nelson responded to a concerned Parents Television Council on the subject of his magazine's sexy 'Glee' photo shoot, telling
The Insider: "The Parents Television Council must not be watching much TV these days and should learn to divide reality from fantasy."
According to
TMZ, the Parents Television Council said the magazine's photo shoot "borders on pedophilia," adding it is "disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on 'Glee' in this way."
GQ's Nelson responded without mincing words: "As often happens in Hollywood, these 'kids' are in their twenties.
Cory Monteith is almost 30! I think they're old enough to do what they want."
In
PopEater's recap of the photo shoot and article yesterday, we noted
Dianna Agron's comment, "I've never been shot in so little clothing." We also noted she is 24 years old.
In
Agron's blog, the actress apologized to all offended parties. "In the land of Madonna, Britney, Miley, Gossip Girl, other public figures and shows that have pushed the envelope and challenged the levels of comfort in their viewers and fans, we are not the first ... If you are hurt or these photos make you uncomfortable, it was never our intention. And if your eight-year-old has a copy of our GQ cover in hand, again I am sorry. But I would have to ask, how on earth did it get there?"
"For GQ, they asked us to play very heightened versions of our school characters. A 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' version. At the time, it wasn't my favorite idea, but I did not walk away. I must say, I am trying to live my life with a sharpie marker approach. You can't erase the strokes you've made, but each step is much bolder and more deliberate. I'm moving forward from this one, and after today, putting it to rest. I am only myself, I can only be me," she wrote.
Nonetheless, the PTC calls the Terry Richardson photo shoot "near-pornographic," adding, "The creators of ['Glee'] have established their intentions on the show's direction. And it isn't good for families."
On The Street: We Ask New Yorkers If They Think the 'Glee' Kids Went Too Far:
Contrary to the PTC's concerns about the negative influence 'Glee' and the GQ piece will have on young viewers, 28-year-old high school dropout Cory Monteith is
quoted in the article as saying, "The last thing I want to do is kind of imply to readers in high school that you too can drop out and be an actor and get on a big show and be famous and make a s***load of money."
'Glee' co-creator Ryan Murphy also tells the magazine that while he was skeptical of doing a sugarcoated family show, he knew responsibility would come into play. "I wanted to do
my version of a family show. But we try to be as responsible as we can, because we know some young people watch."
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The cast of Glee poses in the new issue of GQ
The cast of Glee poses in the new issue of GQ.
Terry Richardson, GQ
Terry Richardson, GQ
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Let's be real... they might play high schoolers on TV, but they are not. They are (that I know of) all in their 20s, and plenty old enough to be in these pictures.
Also, if the argument is that kids might see this... how many kids read GQ?
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Not sure where I stand on this, but clearly, they don't need GQ to see the pictures...you see them right here!
hello do you not go to the stores where all these mags are right there at our kids eye level so done with the show will not be watched in our house anymore
I'm gonna say ummm...i agree. Honestly why is your kid reading GQ? Plus the show isn't really for little kids either...I would say 13 or 14 at the oldest :\
Yes, they are all in their 20's and old enough to pose how they feel. That being said maybe they should get jobs in the porn industry, they are old enough. They play teens and teens look up to their characters. They idolize them and think of themselves as being in their shoes sometimes. If you were a parent you would understand this. Also, how many men do you know of who buy GQ just to read it. I venture to say that kids will buy it for the pics just like men do. Stop thinking of yourselves and think of what impact it will have on impressionable minds that are already facing enough crap in this world of sex,drugs and violence. Wake up humanity!!!!!!!!!!
I saw the pic in a news feed on yahoo...if it's that easy for me to see it, think of how easy it is for kids to see it.
It's unfortunate that Ryan Murphy ruins every good show he starts by making them all decadent and overly sexualized. Nip Tuck is a great example it got so bad towards the end that it was unbearable to watch the depravity. He's got a great thing in Glee...except for the two girls kissing on last weeks show. It's a program the entire family can watch and the music is great.....I hope he sticks to making good music instead of bad sex.
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Really it is a Photo shoot so what if they do this I mean really how many of these kids are actually going to go and buy the GQ magazine I dont know really I doubt a lot of them will
The first season of Glee was great, even with the teen pregnancy. The music was awesome and IK was totally hooked. I was a Gleek. I got my daughter watching it and her daughters loved the show and music. After last week's show and these pics, I am giving the show one more chance with Rocky Horror. It started out being a family show but now instead of being aired at 8:00 pm it should be moved to 10:00 p.m. when most children should be in bed. Ryan, don't ruin this show for the teens and preteens that like it.
linda ...it was never a family show for young kids....the show brings up really adult material that only middle school,highschool age kids should be viewing....
they have guys and girls kiss on that show all the time..one girl was even pregnant, so I don't see how two girls kissing is any different... Yes they implied that they had casual sex, but they always imply that these kids and adults have casual sex. If you're gonna be upset about this, be upset the whole way through.
I have to agree with you. I used to enjoy watching Nip Tuck and then it got unbearable to watch. I hope this isn't going to happen to Glee. I enjoy discussing the show the next day with my granddaughter,but I won't now about what they put on the air. Yes girls kiss girls but don't put it on this show. I wouldn't want her to watch this show anymore. The thing is the show started out to be entertaining for all ages, now it is for the adults to watch and what do you tell a 12 year old she can't watch it anymore? If its for adult move it to a late night show and put anything on it, or my wish is to keep it at least middle of the road so that the younger set can watch it.
I'm sorry but seriously? Glee was never a 'family' or 'kids' show. Just because the color palete is bright and shiny and there's singing and dancing DOES NOT make it another High school musical.
In season one they constantly talked about sex, masturbation, pregnacy, homosexuality, what the heck have YOU guys been watching? What about Finn's 'problem' of climaxing early? What about Pucks habit of sleeping with older women when he's CLEARLY A MINOR? What about the threesome with two students and an adult woman? What about all the heavy make out scenes? Or implied sex scenes between Will and Terri?
If two kissing necking is inapporperiate Glee is not the show for you. Because there will be more of it. Kurt (the young gay boy) is getting a boyfriend this year. When he kisses him is that 'to much' for you? Moreso than all the straight couples kissing/making out/having implied sex? Double standards much?
Glee is NOT a kids show nor a family show because there are some catchy songs and dancing. It's rated TV14 for a reason.
It doesn't take long for these shows and actors to turn sleezy. Doesn't matter that the actors are beyond teen years. They know what they signed up for!
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These actors are driven by money and by the need to stay in the spotlight to enhance their careers. Many young artists are ill-served by their agents and parents in the decisions they make. I would venture a guess that their private FB photos were every bit as provacative as those in GQ. They are, however, not minors and may make their own choices for good or bad.
If you don't like their work, don't buy the media it appears in or the products that sponsor it. But before you invest time and effort railing against their behavior, spend some time taking a good hard look at the photos on your teenager's FB page and on their friend's pages. While a family memeber's own site had demure photos of her (because her Mom checked it regularly), her friends' sites displayed photos of her that were tasteless for a young woman of any age.
The availailty of infomration including the more mature work of actors who appear in family shows is what it is. Your kids are likely to be exposed to it regardless of how careful you think you are being and how well you think you are protecting them. Use the GQ photos as a discussion point, talk to your kids. Ask them if they think the actors made good decisions. Don't expect the media moguls or the actors to make good decisions for you or your kids. They are, after all, in it largely for themselves.
I agree that they are old enough to do as they please. However, I think the problem is that they are posing as teenagers in the GQ pics - in school hallways, locker rooms, in school uniforms, etc. It's more the setting and costumes that make it a bit off - if they were doing the same poses in another place with different clothes there wouldn't be much of an issue.
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Also, please notice it's only the female stars dressed up in cutesy high school scanty outfits. Where's the shot of the male actor playing the drums bare chested with tight scanty briefs? Maybe seductively sucking on one of his drumsticks?
This is exactly the point. Even though they are actually adults, in these pictures they are portraying themselves as high schoolers, barely clothed high schoolers with seductive looks saying "want me, do me". At least the women. The man looks like a dorky high schooler... Hmm, GQ, all about subjecting women for their horny readers, in this case ones with fantasies for underage teens? Pathetic. Ladies, stop doing things like this to look "hot" to make men want you. Use your brains not your body, maybe then men will finally appreciate and respect women.
As a mother and grandmother, I am very disappointed in the way these young girls choose to portray themselves. Don't they know they are being watched by teens and pre-teens? I think as actors/actresses they have a responsibility to their fans (especially school aged girls) to give them something to look up to and aspire to. If this is it, our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, etc. are in real trouble. Where are the morals of our society?
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"Glee" is rated TV-14 and is not intended for young kids, and GQ is aimed at grown men. If parents are letting their kids be raised by the cast of "Glee", they have bigger problems than a racy magazine shoot.