The February issue of Cosmo Magazine features a very grown-up looking Dakota Fanning. Lovely as she is, the problem with this photo is that the “Twilight” star is only 17 years old, making her officially a minor.
Just take a look at the titles framing the delicate star’s face and you’ll see why some parents and other watchdog groups are protesting the magazine’s cover choice.
Admittedly, the photo is tasteful and doesn’t reveal too much of the teenager’s body. The objection to the pretty-in-pink Cosmo cover is that it’s using a minor to sell an adult magazine and essentially oversexualizing the underage actress. Worse, it might lure other teenagers to purchase the magazine — with or without parental consent.
But this is quickly becoming business as usual for the womens’ magazine.
Almost to the day last year, I found myself entangled in a similar debacle after giving a reporter my opinion about Lea Michelle’s revealing cover photo on this same magazine. My blog and my name made the rounds during the evening Hollywood gossip shows, and was featured on Access Hollywood as the background for the news segment. CNN.com also mentioned my site as well Fox.
The Glee star posed for Cosmo a few months after the infamous GQ Glee spread which featured Michelle in nothing more than underwear in provocative poses. This caused a scandal that likely sent sales of the men’s magazine into overdrive.
Cosmo seems to be banking on this marketing ploy once again. However, by using a teenager the glossy is contradicting itself and maybe confusing readers.
In Cosmo’s defense of Lea Michelle’s plunging cleavage the magazine’s spokesperson said, ” We are thrilled to feature Lea Michelle on the March cover of Cosmopolitan magazine and think she looks stunning. Michelle is a grown woman and Cosmopolitan is a magazine for adults.”
This year, the magazine explained Fanning’s Cosmo cover by saying, “We’re thrilled to feature Dakota Fanning on the February cover of Cosmopolitan magazine and she looks stunning…”
Evidently the mag needs to get a new scrip for the spokesperson.
Last year, the young actress posed provocatively in an add for Marc Jacob’s Lola perfume and was banned in the U.K.
What do you think: Is it OK to feature a minor on the cover of a racy magazine marketed to adults and which contains adult topics?
As always, we are on the same page. She looks stunning and as you pointed out the photo is tasteful. But the rest of the cover is appalling for a 17 year old.
Glad we are, Stefanie! This Cosmo cover scandal reminds of another one: Miley Cyrus and Vanity Fair. Where are the parentsmaking these bad deci$ions not only for their child but ours? One thing my daughter said concerned me, “I’d buy that magazine because I love Dakota Fanning.”
That? Is unacceptable! Ugh!
There is no reason an underage should be the poster child for articles of an overage adult nature. I don’t blame the protesters!
Hi Dali, I agree! Why on earth can’t Cosmo or any other adult magazine use an adult. It’s bad enough that kids have to grow up so quickly and lose their innocense way too soon. Dakota and Miley aren’t helping. This makes it two strikes against Dakota and her minor-aged fans. Geez!