Wal-Mart Goes Conservative on Lad Magazines

Walmart has banned Maxin, Stuff, and FHM from it's stores after "listening to our customers and associates," said Melissa Berryhill, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart. "I know we've heard on at least one of those magazines, they weren't pleased with the offering."

Publishers had the obvious replies to the move.

"Maybe they think Tyra Banks should have been wearing pink instead of black," said Stephen Colvin, president of Dennis Publishing (Stuff and Maxim) of a recent cover model. "I don't think that these decisions are often rational; they are subjective. For any men's magazine to put a woman on the cover seems a bit troubling to them."

Wal-mart newstand sales account for about 3% of the two publication's newtstand sales.

And from the FHM camp: "We respect Wal-Mart's right to make a product decision, however we do not agree," said a spokeswoman. "FHM never publishes full frontal nudity and never will. And FHM is far more consistent in its adherence to this policy than Details, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue and many women's fashion magazine's, which publish bare breasts under the guise of art."
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