The CutlineHustler publishes fake explicit photo of S.E. Cupp, sparking criticism
Hustler magazine is facing some criticism after publishing a digitally altered image that depicts S.E. Cupp, a conservative talk show host for Glenn Beck's GBTV, engaged in an oral sex act.
The magazine included a disclaimer with the photo, under the headline "Celebrity Fantasy," that reads:
No such picture of S.E. Cupp actually exists. This composite fantasy is altered from the original for our imagination, does not depict reality, and is not to be taken seriously for any purpose.
The adjacent text explains Hustler's rationale for publishing the image:
S.E. Cupp is a lovely young lady who read too much Ayn Rand in high school and ended up joining the dark side. Cupp, an author and media commentator who often shows up on Fox News programs, is undeniably cute. But her hotness is diminished when she espouses dumb ideas like defunding Planned Parenthood. Perhaps the method pictured here is Ms. Cupp's suggestion for avoiding an unwanted pregnancy.
"I've covered a lot of this misogyny, whether it was Sarah Palin or Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin," Cupp said on Glenn Beck's radio show on Wednesday. "But I've never seen anything this disturbing and graphic."
"It's a doctored photo, so it's not like I'm embarrassed because I performed this act and they caught it on film," Cupp continued. "It's embarrassing because, as you said, it will be out there forever. The fact that I work really hard, and am an Ivy League educated young woman with a pretty good job doesn't really matter when you look at a photo like this."
Cupp and Beck wondered aloud why the liberal media had not condemned Hustler for the stunt.
"You have to wonder if they had done this to somebody like Nancy Pelosi or Michelle Obama, would that stand?" Cupp said. "Would no one make a stink about it? I have to think they would."
"Where's NOW?" Beck said, referring to the National Organization of Women, which led protests against Rush Limbaugh when the conservative firebrand called Georgetown Law student and contraception advocate Sandra Fluke a "slut" earlier this year.
"The outrage of Sandra Fluke will not be matched on my side," Cupp said. "It seems that feminism has devolved into an institution that has picked losers and winners and has decided that some women qualify for respect and other women do not."
Fluke, though, called Hustler's depiction of Cupp "offensive," adding on Twitter: "Sexualization of female public [figures] attempts to limit them to being sexual figures and [nothing] more."
Planned Parenthood also tweeted its support of Cupp.
"Sexist attacks made against women like [Fluke] and recently [Cupp] are disgraceful and cannot be tolerated," the group wrote.
"Yet another vile degradation of a conservative woman," Concerned Women for America, a conservative women's group, said in a separate statement. "Where is NOW to defend this latest victim of misogyny by the liberal media? ... S.E. is a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman and is being attacked because of her pro-life, conservative views; this type of assault is wrong and should not be tolerated."
"It's uncomfortable," Cupp said. "I'm not in this business to talk about myself, I'm not in this business to talk about my character. I'd much rather be talking about Obama's economic record or his foreign policy than myself and having to defend myself against [this photo]."
She added: "Frankly, I wish that these media entities that perform this kind of misogyny would just come out and do what Hustler did, instead of beating around the bush and pretending to be fair, pretending to be above that. They're not above that. This is exactly what they do every single time."
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