Cosmopolitan Magazine Pulled From Checkout Aisles at Walmart

In a move Walmart deemed a “business decision,” Cosmopolitan magazine was pulled from the checkout lines at 5,000 of its locations. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation unveiled in a recent post that it has been working with the retailer on the decision “for months.”

The advocacy group slammed “hypersexualized” Cosmopolitan for promoting sexual exploitation and pornography to America’s youth and families. According to the group, the magazine routinely ties its borderline pornographic content to harmless Disney stars.

Cosmopolitan does have a history of provocative covers and sex advice to readers. The Hearst Communications-owned publication claims that it has over 18 million readers every month.

On Tuesday, Walmart said that it would continue to sell Cosmopolitan at its locations, but the publication would no longer be located in plain sight at the checkout lines.

While this was primarily a business decision, the concerns raised were heard,

the retailer said.

Cosmopolitan Magazine Promoting Risky Sex to America’s Youth

The NCOSE praised Walmart’s decision, blasting Cosmo over its “hypersexualized and degrading article titles” that promote sexting, anal sex, group sex, pornography, and BDSM. The group cited national surveys in which most Americans said that Cosmo’s content and titles are not appropriate for all age groups.

Also, the NCOSE claims that many young girls and boys contacted the group to complain about the magazine building peer-pressure to accept riskier forms of sex, which took a heavy toll on them.

The NCOSE, which was founded in the early 1960s, has been focusing on the role of pornography on sexual exploitation ever since. After Walmart’s decision, the nonprofit praised the retailer for making its locations “family-friendly and sexploitation-free.”

Walmart has yet to respond to a request for comment, while Hearst couldn’t be reached for comment on the issue.
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Anne-Marie Jackson

Anna grew up on a steady diet of 20th century literature, science-fiction movies and Viking lore. Unsurprisingly she turned into a technology geek with an inclination for history & fantasy.