Arkansas grocery stores place 'family shield' over Elton John cover of Us Weekly magazine

[Newsjock]

Source: Cover Awards

... Harps – a grocery store chain in Arkansas – appears to have censored last week’s Us Weekly Magazine cover featuring Elton John and David Furnish’s new baby.

... I’ve made numerous calls to the chains PR rep – who so far refuses to comment on the chain’s ridiculous behavior.

What I’ve been told is the company has received 50 calls this morning alone – and now the PR director is only accepting voice mails.

I also spoke to an individual inside the actual Arkansas Harps’ store – who did confirm that the cover was at one point covered – which confirms the actual above picture is real.

Read more: http://coverawards.com/2011/01/26/news_elton_john_magazine_cover_censored_10981/

[woo me with science]

1. So tired of this crap.

So fucking tired of it.

:banghead:

[nc4bo]

2. If people would just manage to keep themselves out of other people's private parts...

and private lives and respect people's privacy and get their own personal junk in order, the world would be a much better place indeed.


I'm happy for them!

[CountAllVotes]

3. oooohhhhh don't look now

At two happy looking parents.



Congratulations to all 3 of you! :)

:dem:

[RKP5637]

12. +1000 +++ n/t

[CountAllVotes]

14. they should cover this crap up!

Note: There is a man in this picture smoking a joint standing right behind this woman wearing the bikini/w flab it appears! GOD DAMNIT! :rofl:

[RKP5637]

17. Now that IS gross!!! n/t

[krabigirl]

4. "Family shield"?! LMAO

[Fuzz]

5. Sigh

[jsamuel]

6. Have a Harps in my town. I went to Wal-mart and saw the issue was not covered there.

[The Doctor.]

7. Another state to avoid on family trips.

No family values.

[jsamuel]

9. not fair to judge the whole state for what has only been confirmed at a single store so far

the story is causing a stir in Arkansas too:

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2011/01/26/harps-blocks-elton

[The Doctor.]

18. I understand.

It just seems so much more likely to run into crazies there than in some other states.

[formercia]

10. Fortunately, there are a lot of nice people in AR.

You might be surprised. Quite a few are practicing Christians.

It's the assholes that make the State look bad.

[RKP5637]

8. Soooooo dumb! Plain dumb and bigoted. n/t

[msanthrope]

11. A family shield to shield families, from...a family? n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

13. The phone # in the article is for the Mountain Home store, not the HQ of Harp's which

is in Springdale, AR. That number would be 479-751-7601 and here's a link to their comment form:

https://secure.harpsfood.com/ContactUs/ContactUs_S.las?-token.S=82BT9R80C690318P743211BCigMN6L52BF46CC|12105|1101261356|||

[Newsjock]

15. Update from GLAAD: Shields reportedly removed

http://glaadblog.org/2011/01/26/arkansas-supermarket-censors-then-possibly-uncensors-elton-john-cover

... So here’s where we stand as of now – Harps does not have an opinion on “this issue.” Harps Corporate Executive Assistant Marty Yarborough says the shield was put up because some customers complained. Brittany says the shield was taken down this morning, and Greg, the manager of that store, says he can’t talk to me.

[deaniac21]

16. Censoring is a little strong. It appears that they were selling the

story.

[sarcasmo]

19. Voice mail is probably already full. More religious hate, religion SUCKS!

[name not needed]

20. How about we just put a "family shield" over Arkansas?

[sinkingfeeling]

22. It was one single store out of a chain of 65. Not shielded anywhere else.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

21. But Guns & Ammo is on full display.

[Erose999]

23. I wonder if his new BFF Rushbo will stick up for him? n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

24. They backtracked. No longer censored.

After all the much-deserved crap they got, this was predictable:

http://coverawards.com/2011/01/26/news_elton_john_magazine_cover_shield_removed_19189