Elton John's gay family photo: Censored in Arkansas?
A Southern supermarket covers up copies of Us Weekly featuring Elton John, his partner, and their new baby — until the move sparks outrage online

The image: Harps Food Stores executives triggered a heated debate about gay rights this week, after managers at one of the chain's Arkansas supermarkets put a "Family Shield" over the new US Weekly's cover photo of Elton John, his husband David Furnish, and their newborn son Zachary, who was born Christmas Day to a surrogate mother. A shopper snapped a photo of the shield-obscured issues (see below), and tweeted a message urging people to complain. Harps corporate headquarters was swiftly inundated with calls, prompting executives to remove the shields. "Our true intention," Harps President and COO Kim Eskew wrote, "is not to offend anyone in our stores." (Watch an HLN report about the controversy)
The reaction: Why was this loving family photo treated as something shameful?, asks Greg Hernandez at Hollywood News. Thank goodness "this outrageous act was made public by a vigilant shopper and tweeter." Don't be too hard on Harps, says Roberta Ferguson in Ear Sucker. A customer complaint from the conservative side of the gay-rights debate started the whole thing. The lesson here is that "the interwebz" rule, says Christopher Spencer at Ozarks Unbound. The angry store customers didn't stand a chance once news of this censorship hit Twitter and went viral. Here's a look at the cover and the Harps-censored version:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Why UK scientists are trying to dim the Sun
In The Spotlight The UK has funded controversial geoengineering techniques that could prove helpful in slowing climate change
By Abby Wilson
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
By The Week Staff
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK