GQ Editor on 'Glee' Photo Shoot: 'They're Old Enough to Do What They Want'

By Zach Dionne Posted Oct 20th 2010 05:18PM

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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Tags: Glee, GQ, Parents Television Council

Comments

(301)

Thursday 21 October

By Chelsea

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Why would you even want pre-teen and teen girls looking up to actresses? There are plenty more women out there that would be more of the role model you're looking for like engineers, scientists, and CEOs. If you look at the plot of Glee, Dianna Argon's character GOT KNOCKED UP IN HIGH SCHOOL. It's a TV show, not a damn girl scout meeting.

By mary

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amen to that.

By KarenB

Joanne and Chelsea .........you are so right about there being more women out there that would be better role models for our young girls/young women to be looking at for more substance in their lives! Young and old women alike, who are engineers, teachers, scientists, nurses, CEOs, etc. If you look at the plot of Glee, Dianna Argon's character GOT KNOCKED UP IN HIGH SCHOOL. It's a TV show, not a damn girl scout meeting!!!
As the old saying goes...........In my humble opinion, me thinks we are "preaching to the choir"!!! ....KarenB

Wednesday 20 October

By Dianne

American Idol, which is a family show, tried to get people to

stay tuned for Glee, the next show, which has sexual content.

They would put cast member of Glee in their audience to

promote the show or Ryan Seacrest would tell the viewers to

watch "Glee" following the show. With millions of children

watching, I wondered why American Idol would tell the

viewers to watch a program with sex talk and sexual

behavior. Glee should be aired at 10 pm on another station,

not after American Idol.

By Lucy

Ever heard of a DVR? Or the off button? Or changing the channel?

By Ron in NY

All brought to you by the wonderful folks who bring you Fox News. Why don't you ask your friends at Fox why they do this? HMMMMM?

By savanna3344

I Luv GLEE, but this is just insulting

By PSPICER

Savanna3344 is right. This TREND is insulting to Glee fans. This season I was looking for more witty stories, terrific heartful plots of real issues and teen feelings, and great music mash ups. The Spears show??? Huh? She is a powerful role model? HAH! The GQ photo shoot was about the teen characters in porno poses - Yuck. (Didn't the actress who plays Rachel do a sexy photo shoot "channeling" Marilyn Monroe poses and clothes as her adult self already? That really was tasteful and sexy and appropriate for HER. And appropriate because it was her adult self doing what she wanted, not an exploitation of her teen character.) Now, Rocky Horror, an obviously R rated theme about conflicted sexuality in a negative light at the 8pm family time slot, done by teen characters. TV-14. Sorry, I do think 14, 15, 16, 17 year olds ARE kids still. They DO NOT have the experience to filter this input and decide what is wisdom, real value, and what to dump as garbage the way, like, a 30 year old can for example. If you want this type of programming and content to avoid conflict or discussions like this, put it on at 10pm and you get no problem from me. Glee WAS an excellent show last year.

By James

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Ughh and here we go again seriously I am getting tired of this dam council. They think everything is too sexual it is a dam photo shoot how u think u want them to do it just wearing certain things calm down and just shut up council.

By Jules

AMEN

You and most of America, James.

I've had it up to here (use your imagination) with the sex police who want to ram their own narrow way of thinking down everybody else's throats.

I think Tony Perkins (Family Research Council) should think about why some of this stuff bothers him so much. I seriously think he has some unresolved sexual issues. Ironic that he shares the name of one of Hollywood's most notorious gay actors.

By anna

No it's not just the council.....don't you see enough sleeze everyday. This could be a great musical without being sexualized if you need that stuff in your life go watch porn. I'd like my kids to get exposed to more really good music on TV instead of most of the crap that's being played today. And this show does that. The kids are really talented and he doesn't have to oversexualize them for what purpose???

By Mike

Whoa Nelly! IM a old guy and have never watched Glee, but I will now........

By mike

As a mother and grandmother, it is YOUR job to raise the children in your life correctly, not letting TV do it for you.

By Susan

Nailed it right on the head! I am a mother, and if this is what an actress wants to do with her life, then so be it. I wouldn't want my daughter having an actress as her role model anyways. I am not opposed to photo shoots or movies/tv shows. Like she states, she is living her life with a sharpie... let her write her own story... it is permanent marker :)

By Bobbo

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Thank you Mike for making sense. Why is it up to t.v. stars and everyone else to be role models for your children? It's YOUR responsibility as a parent to do so. Nobody wants to be responsible for how their children turn out. T.V. makes them want to dress/act a certain way? Bull crap. I have teenage nieces who were exposed to more, but were raised right, they all dress modestly and are strong, independent women. Talk to your kids people. Ask them how this makes them feel, if you have girls, let them know they DON'T have to dress like this to be liked by men. Give them some direction, talk to them. Quit blaming everyone else!

By iuilegrainne

Here's an idea- if you don't want your kids to see the pictures, DON'T BRING GQ INTO YOUR HOUSE!! Kids aren't going to find these on their own.

By Amy

You don't need the magazine to find these pics. I turned on my AOL and found the article and pics. I totally agree with Joanne

By rm

I agree, but this is all over the tv news.

Today, GQ (Gentlemen's Quarterly), tomorrow, Playboy! I can see it now! The Girls of Glee! Now wouldn't that be festive? (And something for the Parents Television Council to go ballistic over?) The PTC would be shocked and appalled. Yeah, Yeah, shocked (while thumbing thru the sticky pages).

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