Elton John Magazine Censored By 'Family Shield' in Supermarket

By Zach Dionne Posted Jan 26th 2011 03:21PM

A Harps supermarket in Mountain View, Ark., censored an Us Weekly cover featuring Elton John, husband David Furnish and their new baby, Zachary. Deemed inappropriate for "young Harps shoppers," the store placed a "family shield" in front of the magazine.

Twitter user @jennhudd saw the censored cover and began tweeting a photo to celebrities like Ellen DeGeneres, Anderson Cooper and Neil Patrick Harris, asking them to "bring attention" to the store's decision.

The Mountain View Harps responded to a call from PopEater on Wednesday afternoon with a curt "no comment" before hanging up. A call to the corporate office had us placed on hold, redirected and sent to a voice mail when asked for official comment.

CoverAwards.com had better luck speaking to Harps -- a cashier told the site Harps was "in a no-win situation" as children being shielded from the magazine cover would "have to know at some point [about gay families]."

PopEater's Naughty But Nice Rob Shuter reported that the Elton John cover sold poorly and wondered if America wasn't ready for "two men and a baby." Now he calls the censorship "very sad," asking, "We can let our families watch 'Jersey Shore' but not see a picture of Elton, his partner and their beautful baby boy?"

After originating the picture of the censored cover, @jennhudd reported the "family shields" had been removed, likely as a result of the Internet's interest in the issue. Jennifer sent a series of tweets suggesting offended parties call the Harps office and file complaints.

GLAADblog also spoke to Harps. The account:

I spoke with Harps Corporate Executive Assistant Marty Yarborough, who told me that every Harps store is equipped with these shields and that they get put up whenever customers complain about the content of a magazine cover. She said the word from the store about this particular cover was that "several" customers had complained, so the shield went up. She also confirmed that these shields are utilized on a store-by-store basis, so the magazine would not have been covered up at any of the other Harps locations, unless customers complained there as well. She also told me that the usage of the shield on this particular cover is "in no way our opinion on this issue." She quickly added, "we do not have an opinion on this issue."

BuzzFeed reports Harps has more than 60 locations in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Elton John and David Furnish's son was born via a surrogate on Christmas Day. Zachary is the first child for John, 62, and Furnish, 48. The couple married in 2005 after being together for 12 years.

Based on Elton's recent sentiment for gay marriage opponents (hint: it involved an "F" and a "you"), we can assume he won't take kindly to being family-shielded in his moment of joy.

►Elton John Doesn't Care if His Son Is Gay or Straight

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Tags: David Furnish, Elton John

Comments

(1203)

Wednesday 26 January

By Susan

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Yeah, maybe you're right. We should all take example from Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Charlie Sheen, and the rest of the "good" examples in society today. All their parents were heterosexual! Get your head out of the sand!

By misterright1313

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Susan you were born from heterosexual parents. You neglected to respond to specific points. You took the easy way out to try and bring up the most obvious examples of these train wrecks. He said shouldn't straight people be getting thanks just for life? Elton John included. They wouldn't have the CHOICE to be gay if it wasn't for heterosexual sex. Lol. So go ahead and play the GAY CARD call me a homophobe. I am sick of all of the heterophobes out here.

Thursday 27 January

By mer

Well said.
These people are blinded by ignorance and bigotry.
I know children who would have been much better off had they just been raised in a loving, caring environment no matter what sex their parents were. My husband and I have been married for over 40 years and have 3 great kids, all straight. Had one of them been gay it wouldn't have mattered to us, we would still have loved them the same and wanted them to have a full, happy life. I think this baby has a better chance than most in today's world.

By Mike

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I'm sorry but 3 wrongs don't make a right.

By switch

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Two dongs don't make it right.

By Andy

Oh,yeah, an email will be sent. Sure!

By lrecctx1973

What is truely sad about all of this is that the magazine is being censured because it is two gay men and their baby on the cover. Let's be realistic: There are far worse things than two men on a cover with their beautiful baby boy. There is nothing wrong with showing that there are all kinds of parents in the world whether they be same sex, straight, or even aunt, uncle or grandparents raising a child. If these people want something to be upset about, they need to look at children who have been abused and neglected by family members. They need to try to protect children from being beaten, shaken, burned and starved by the people that are supposed to love them and take care of them. Everyone needs to pull the stick out of their butt and start worrying about things far more important than two gay men having a child togather.

By Andie

I was raised by two loving grandparents,and still at a young age was raped many times by my great uncle right under there roof.I was a scared child and did not say any thing. so gay or straight.being in a loving and a better home like Elton can provide for his child if his baby is happy that is all that should matter.

By TN_Guy

Could care less about the cover. My kid is more interested in the WWE magazine than this. HMMM maybe I should have a talk with him it does have shirtless men in it! I do have one question though. Did they pick out their own rings I mean Elton's, is like double the size of the David guy. Might just be personal taste. (Cute kid though.)

By Polar Patrol

Every other celebrity couple "throws their business in our face," so the difference is? Oh, I get it, you're afraid of those scary gays.

By stu

let me guess nonny2T...u were home schooled & never went to college.

By Above all

The child was NOT ADOPTED!!! He is the product of a surrogate. Elton John is his biological father! Stuff you "sin"!

Friday 28 January

By bill

that is the problem - God or nature set it up so that gays do not reproduce.

By SkyBlue

How was that thrown in your face? Good grief! Are you that repressed?

By Carolyn

get a real issue

By Lee

If yall would just quit making such a big deal about same sex marriage, same sex couples adopting, etc...it would not be that big a change in everyday life....yall are the ones who are swimming up stream...God doesnt care, really. What in the world are you so afraid of? Afraid we got it right? We dont stand on the corner to "recruit". We are everyday people struggling to pay our taxes, rent, etc and realize that yeah we have one more struggle to deal with, why add to it...I really think the God of your choice would not be pleased with how you handle this......

By ralph hagerman

that was your choice to be what you are. not God or your mom or dad.

By cac006006

How many children would even pay attention to that cover? It is a picture of 2 men with a baby. Most kids probably do not even know who Elton John is (I am BTW, a fan of his). Most other covers of girls in barely there clothes would catch their attention more than 2 men and a baby.

By Nicole

It's technically a family picture. Get over yourself and get some manners.

By Kitten

You have to respect that everyone has the right to choose what is seen in their establishment. Just because someone is conservative in their veiwpoint, it doesn't make them dumb or backward. Those who are "hating" need to get a grip! When haters spew nastiness as some have regarding this matter, it shows everyone who really is narraw, backward and dumb.

Take a breath and relax. If you own a business, it's your discretion as to what you display publicly.

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