While PTC calls the images 'near-pornographic' which border on pedophilia, editor in chief of GQ insists Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Dianna Agron 'are old enough' to do the sultry shots.
- Oct 21, 2010
AceShowbiz - The latest racy shots of "Glee" stars, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Dianna Agron, featured in November issue of GQ magazine have sparked lots of controversy. Parents Television Council's president Tim Winter dubbed the provocative images "near-pornographic" and the pics border on pedophilia. Meanwhile, editor in chief of GQ, Jim Nelson, has released their objection.
"The Parents Television Council must not be watching much TV these days and should learn to divide reality from fantasy," Nelson fired back PTC in a statement. "As often happens in Hollywood, these 'kids' are in their twenties. Cory Monteith's almost 30! I think they're old enough to do what they want." While Monteith is 28, Michele and Agron are both 24 years old.
Professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, Bob Thompson, also raised his voice, brushing off PTC's comments. Thompson told Reuters, "From the very beginning, 'Glee' has dealt with pot, teen pregnancy and gay sexuality. This is a show that has definitely got adult themes. The GQ shoot demonstrates it isn't just a show for teeny boppers."
Series creator Ryan Murphy himself previously told GQ that the show has come under fire because of some racy scenes this season but he indeed claimed he never intended the series to be a traditional family show. "I didn't want to do a family show. I wanted to do my version of a family show," he told the mag. FOX, in the meantime, hasn't responded to PTC's criticism.
Meanwhile, PTC themselves slammed the sultry images through a statement released on Wednesday, October 20. "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. It borders on pedophilia. Sadly, this is just the latest example of the overt sexualization of young girls in entertainment," PTC's president Winter explained.
Winter went on, "Many children who flocked to 'High School Musical' have grown into 'Glee' fans. They are now being treated to seductive, in-your-face poses of the underwear-clad female characters posing in front of school lockers, one of them opting for a full-frontal crotch shot."
"By authorizing this kind of near-pornographic display, the creators of the program have established their intentions on the show's direction. And it isn't good for families," the statement further read. "Parents need to be on guard as we expect the show to push the envelope even further. Unfortunately, it seems 'Glee' is only masquerading as family show and is far from appropriate for young viewers."
