Walmart Just Says ‘No’ To Selling Cosmopolitan Magazine
When I was growing up, there were a few magazines that I couldn't live without: Seventeen, Bop, Tiger Beat, Cosmopolitan, and Essence (and Jet magazines at the beauty shop).
Enter Walmart, stage left (just like Sandman from Showtime At the Apollo) ready to yank Cosmopolitan magazine away from checkout lines nationwide! Walmart claims it's because of the rise of the #MeToo movement, and argue that Cosmopolitan's magazine bold- fonted headlines are too "hypersexualized" and "degrading" to women.
Tell that to Carrie Underwood, Jessica Alba, Cardi B., Jennifer Hudson, Selena Gomez, Heidi Klum, Laverne Cox, Cameron Diaz, Beyonce, Chrissy Teigen and countless other respected and revered women who have posed proudly for the magazine's cover.
Now, last time I looked, talking about the latest accessories, dating tips, celebrity gossip and exercise apps was not "degrading".
*Scoffs* I guess one too many parent was tired of explaining to little Suzy what the word S-E-X-Y means. As the mother of a 7-year old who is in the advanced reading group at her school, I can kind of understand the decision to take Cosmo away from the checkout lanes. However, that problem can be alleviated by moving the magazine to the highest level on the magazine racks.
It appears to me that the issue is about the exposure of these sex tips to teenagers. You cannot shelter your kids from learning about S-E-X, no matter how hard you try! I grew up in a strict, religious household, yet I was asking my fellow classmates what they heck was "french-kissing" and if they knew what a "virgin" was. I was only in the 5th grade! Kids hear things and see things, and just because you take a magazine off the rack at the grocery store doesn't mean our kids won't be exposed to the stuff!
Why stop at Cosmo? Why not take down National Enquirer magazines that feature ridiculous headlines about so-and-so's celebrity divorce? Hmmmm! Or that Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition? Or Quilter's Weekly! Those cheeky squares are getting out of control! Get rid of Reader's Digest because what exactly are they reading about these days? Don't even get me started on all those FOOD magazines in the checkout lane! Too tempting--oops, there's that word "T-E-M-P-T-I-N-G"! Too risqué!
As you can imagine, this is a shock, so CNBC jumped on the email to Walmart demanding an explanation, and Walmart wrote back: Dear Sirs and Whatnot, we "will continue to offer Cosmopolitan to customers that wish to purchase the magazine, but it will no longer be located in the checkout aisles."
Thanks Walmart, for reminding me that Cosmopolitan magazine has a bunch of dating and sexy-time tips! I haven't had a read this magazine in a while.