Fox News is reporting that the movement to force the magazine to shield its cover and prevent persons under 18 from buying it has only picked up momentum by the choice to feature an underage Fanning on the February cover. Former model Nicole Weider, who started the petition drive against Cosmopolitan in August of this year, says featuring a minor in a slinky dress on the cover, surrounded by graphic sexual headlines, is the perfect example of why she got involved.
“As a former reader of the magazine, I happened to pick up an issue and was reading it and was completely shocked at how pornographic and explicit the content had become. I immediately thought of my young teenage brothers and it horrified me to think that they and their friends could be reading this material, and the damage it would do to them if they did,” Weider told FOX411’s Pop Tarts column. “So I decided to do something about it.”
She launched a petition drive, Change.org , to have the magazine sold in a non-transparent wrapper.
"This publication has steadily declined into a full-on pornographic 'how to' guide for teens and vulnerable young girls," the petition states. "Every issue dares girls and encourages them to try new sex moves (including anal sex), engage in threesomes, experiment with lesbianism, have public sex, watch porn, (with specific URLS listed-October 2011 issue.) and using sex toys such as dildos, shower heads, and vibrating tongue rings to 'please your man and stimulate your clitoris.' This readily available magazine has become one of the media’s worst influences on girls."
Weider also contacted the Chairman of the FTC, John Liebowitz, and was told that his office would start an investigation only when it felt as if this matter became a "threat" to society.
"This means they need more complaints — that is, signers of this petition,” Weider says.
She's even more concerned about the magazine's tendency to occasionally uses tween/teen stars like Fanning, Hayden Panettiere, and Selena Gomez who is reportedly to be featured in an upcoming issue. Weider says this is inappropriate for a magazine that caters to an adult audience.
Thus far, her petition drive has netted over 11,000 signatures and she says her website has received hundreds of supportive e-mails from girls as young as 11.
“They write me letters detailing how they've tried the sexual tips written about in Cosmo, only to get their hearts broken, or worse — getting pregnant or catching an STD,” she said. “The obvious damage it could be doing is the girls getting STD’s at a young age, pregnancy and bullying. But let’s not forget other behaviors Cosmo displays in a glamorous package to young girls, such as sexting nude pictures of yourself (November 2011) and suggesting that it is ‘normal’ if your boyfriend cheats on you (December 2011).”
Weider's movement is beginning to catch steam. Media experts such as Rachelle Friberg have also expressed disapproval of Cosmopolitan and the Fanning cover to Fox.
“Cosmopolitan is going overboard by putting an underage girl on its cover surrounded by such article titles,” Friberg said. “It is one thing to educate young women about sex and their bodies, but putting a young, underage girl on the cover of a magazine that had long been known to push the limits is sending the wrong message.”
Stylite commented that “putting her [Fanning] in league with the full-grown sex symbols who normally cover this magazine (think Kim Kardashian, Scarlett Johansson and Beyonce) sort of makes it seem like she’s reached her prime before she’s even reached her prime.”
Even NY Magazine disapproves. About the Fanning cover, they commented: “We don’t mean to be prude, but isn’t she like, 17?”
Thus far, Cosmopolitan is not backing down on its racy choices.
“We’re thrilled to feature Dakota Fanning on the February cover of Cosmopolitan magazine and she looks stunning. Dakota, who turns 18 this month, is a mature, fearless young woman and we are proud to honor her as our Fun Fearless Female of the year,” a Cosmopolitan rep told Fox.
Fanning's representatives did not return calls for comment and it is unclear if the actress even knew or approved of being featured as Cosmo's Fun Fearless Female. Magazines have no obligation to tell any celebrity they will be appearing in their pages.
However, Fanning did appear in a perfume ad months ago which was banned by the UK's Advertising Standards of Authority because it crossed the lines of appropriateness. Fanning was shown in the ad in a short girly dress with a giant bottle of perfume between her legs.
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The sexualization of girls is reaching crisis proportions. Get the facts on EWTN's Women of Grace this week when authors Mary Jo Anderson and Susan Brinkmann reveal these troubling trends and what you can do about it! Visit our website for more information.
