Sainsbury’s attacked for covering up gay magazines, leaving Zoo uncovered

A Sainsbury’s store has been criticized for covering the fronts of gay magazines, while half-naked women on the front of Zoo and FHM remained uncovered.

A picture of the magazines in the Trinity Centre store in Bolton was circulated on Twitter, and was shared by celebrities including Rufus Hound and Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton.

In the picture, copies of the GT and Attitude magazines are placed behind screens, alongside Esquire and tattoo magazine Skin Deep.

However, Zoo magazine – which features Sophie Reade removing her bra on the cover – was not placed behind a screen, while a skimpy picture also remained uncensored on the front of FHM.

It is the second time in several months that a Sainsbury’s store has been criticized for disproportionately covering gay magazines, after the Regent Road Salford branch did the same thing in April.

Cotton, who reported the April case, said: “I’M FURIOUS. This is not acceptable and it is blatant and discriminatory. I suggest Sainsbury’s get in touch…”

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We use modesty covers for a range of publications – including Loaded, Zoo, Nuts, Bizarre, Front & Attitude.

“We contacted the Bolton store and have put the correct covers in place.”

In April, the Salford store hastily made a new laminated screen for FHM, rather than uncover the others.

News just in… Here’s a Gay @Sainsburys Regent Road update… The’ve made an FHM cover… pic.twitter.com/xJGt6spGqS — Antony Cotton (@antonycotton) April 1, 2014

(Photo: Robbie Kimpton, Twitter)

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