These are nowhere near as disturbing as the True Blood stars’ recent bloody nude Rolling Stone cover that still haunts me, but TV watchdog group the Parents Television Council is stirring things up this morning with its outrage over the racy photo shoot of the stars from Fox’s Glee in the upcoming issue of GQ, which it called a “near-pornographic display.” “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,” said PTC President Tim Winter.
“Sadly, this is just the latest example of the overt sexualization of young girls in entertainment.” With Glee slotted to air after the Super Bowl in January, I can actually see Fox’s point in popularizing the show among men. Remember Jimmy Kimmel’s zinger at the upfronts about the move? “Apparently, they are trying to set a new Guinness World 
record for the most 43-year-old drunk guys saying ‘What the f**k is this?’ all at once.” Yes, the pictures are crossing a line and I find them distasteful, but frankly so are most magazine photos these days as publications scramble to make money. And despite playing teens, the Glee actors are all adults (Dianna Agron and Lea Michele are 24, Cory Monteith is 28). GQ editor-in-chief Jim Nelson released a statement defending the shoot: “The Parents Television Council must not be watching much TV these days and should learn to divide reality from fantasy. As often happens in Hollywood, these ‘kids’ are in their twenties. Cory Montieth’s almost 30! I think they’re old enough to do what they want.”
UPDATE THURSDAY AM: Glee‘s Dianna Agron, who was far more modest in her photos than co-star Lea Michele, weighed in on the controversy in a very personal post on her blog last night. Here is an excerpt:
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. Now, in perpetuating the type of images that evoke these kind of emotions, I am sorry. 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?… I understand that in today’s world of advanced technology, the internet, our kids can be subject to very adult material at the click of a button. But there are parental locks, and ways to get around this. I am twenty-four years old. I have been a pretty tame and easy-going girl my whole life. Nobody is perfect, and these photos do not represent who I am… Glee is a show that represents the underdogs, which is a feeling I have embraced much of my own life, and to those viewers, the photos in GQ don’t give them that same feeling. I understand completely… 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’m moving forward from this one, and after today, putting it to rest… These aren’t photos I am going to frame and put on my desk, but hey, nor are any of the photos I take for magazines.
The whole “pedophilia” angle that people are coming from here is just ridiculous. As it has been stated previously, the actors in the shoot are all WELL past their teens. And you know what else? It really doesn’t matter that they portray teenagers on the show, because the target audience for the show is old enough to know the difference between real and pretend. They are old enough to know that the actors are NOT their characters. Also, if parents are doing their job, then Little Johnny would never even see the pics anyway (nor would he be watching the show).
It shocks me to read such review in the 21st century, as well as to see so many manifestations of people still with prejudice against sex. Someone even said: “because homosexuality is wrong”. Wrong? This is HOMOPHILIA! How can someone “judge” what is right or wrong like this! Don’t judge for not being judged! If someone is not homosexual… respect who is! If someone doesn’t like the sensual shots token for GQ… don’t buy it! Don’t even look at it! The author of the article also said the magazine is “sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on Glee”. Did she ever realized that the tow WOMEN are in their mid 20s and,… they are beautiful and sensual ADULT women(as all women are… or should be!) and knew what they were doing? Besides the money they got for that, of course! What’s more… yes, this magazine is for adult men. If you don’t agree with the content… DON’T READ IT! DON’T BUY IT! Even worse is to say: “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.” PEDOPHILIA? They are 2 ADULTS play the role of two students… what doesn’t mean even that the two students are under age! It reminds me a comment someone wrote once about an advertisement of lingerie, where Santa Claus was caught dropping gifts under a Christmas tree by a beautiful woman dressed in red lingerie. The complainer was worried about the ” public image of Santa Claus”. Soon we will see people writing defend the public image of the Easter Bunny (they will attack Playboy for that), Big Foot, The Jeannie in the Bottle,…
I really don’t get what the big deal is…
Don’t like it? Don’t watch it. That’s what I do.
Don’t like your kids watching it? Block it.
And for those who do watch it; hey, whatever floats your boat guy.
Leave the god crap outta of it (no offence).
Chance are, if someone is watching a show with chicks scissoring in it, they’re not too worried about what “god” thinks or just don’t believe in it. Telling them that “he’ll” judge them; not gonna change their mind.
Really…I don’t get the big deal?
And if these girls wanna do a sexy shoot; let them do it.
Don’t like it? Don’t look, again.
‘Cause I can tell ya now, your “god” probably isn’t if “he’s” against it. So I don’t think he’s really aware.
(Not saying any of this to offend people, so please don’t take offense. I’m just stating a point. NO. OFFENCE. INTENDED….at all.)
i think they took the wrong sentences out for the excerpt. the actual post is a lot more…… well,it makes her sound much better and more intelligent lol i am a huge fan of glee =) actually, im obsessed…=) but not in a creepy way of course.
Good for Dianna Agron. A young lady who will continue on after her GLEE years cast in poignant and classy roles.
Personally, I LOVE LOVE LOOOVVE GLEE and know the actors are young adults, but what is Ms. Lea Michelle trying to prove in furthering her brand this way? Or do we blame her publicist and agents?
Her overly exposed thighs and nether region is not something I needed to see (as hot as the photos INDEED ARE.)and just sends a message of celeb desperation frankly.
Evocative? Absolutely. Classy and poised? Uhmmm…
Just seems like Lea IS being Rachel and trying way too hard for when she either leaves the show or signs some film deal which has her filming during hiatus. Maybe this is pre-publicity for the
life-story of some sexually deviant diva? If not… why didn’t someone in her camp offer up the fact that part of the magic of celebrity (let alone her character on GLEE that has made her an international celeb to begin with) is in what you don’t see, what isn’t exposed, and what isn’t in your face.
I kinda wonder where Rachel’s story line is headed and if Ryan Murphy actually supports this shoot? I suppose he would because any controversy just brings the show that much more attention- but Mr. Murphy, please NOTE:
A demure Jewish girl that wants to wait to have sex with Fin is no longer what I will be able to believe when I watch the show. Rachel’s (sweet and shy-ish side) illusion is kinda destroyed… so pop her cherry already and let us FINALLY meet her gay fathers. Oy.