Home » Coles Pulls Harper’s Bazaar Naked Kerr Issue On Account Of It Being “Inappropriate”

18 December, 2015

Coles Pulls Harper’s Bazaar Naked Kerr Issue On Account Of It Being “Inappropriate”

Coles supermarkets have made the decision to pull thousands of copies of Harper’s Bazaar Australia magazine from its shelves, deeming the appearance of a nude Miranda Kerr “inappropriate”.

It comes as racy lads’ mags are either folding or covering up, however women’s mags are yet to be pulled into the same line of order.

But the supermarket hasn’t elaborated on what prompted the decision to shield its shoppers eyes from the magazine cover, with a Coles spokesman only confirming the magazine’s removal after “briefly” appearing in stores.

“We didn’t think the cover was appropriate for our stores so the decision was made,” the spokesman said.

No word on whether there were complaints made, although per Fairfax, one “complaint” had been filed from an unknown party. Coles was adamant, however, that the decision was an internal one.

Harper’s Bazaar editor-in-chief Kellie Hush was reported saying she was “disappointed” with Coles’ decision.

“I was really disappointed to hear Coles made the decision to pull the Miranda Kerr issue off shelves,” she said, per Fairfax.

The controversial cover

“The cover is a beautiful artistic image taken by one of Australia’s best photographer’s Steven Chee and I stand by that.

“I have had so much positive feedback from around the globe, it is a shame Coles does not also recognise the artistic integrity of this image.

“As Gloria Steinem says: ‘The human body is not obscene.’ ”

Harper’s Bazaar’s cover decision coincided with news that international men’s magazine Playboy was ditching its naked centrefolds, but Hush insisted the two mags are nothing alike.

“The demise of provocative mens’ magazines has been a long time coming and Bazaar is in no way looking to fill that slot.

“We’re now living in an era of Victoria’s Secret Angels, stolen nude photos and attempts to break the internet with reality stars in provocative poses,” Hush said.

“This isn’t the same thing. Harper’s Bazaar has long celebrated the daring woman – someone with vision, commitment, style – and a total lack of fear. Miranda may be naked but she’s a trailblazer and this cover celebrates this.”

Per Fairfax, Hush also argued that the image was not only tasteful, but actually far less provocative than other titles stocked in stores like Coles, including exercise magazines that often featured “much more provocative” depictions of naked bodies.

It was later revealed that, during the photo shoot, Kerr wore a G-string, which was Photoshopped out of the image that appears on the cover.

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