Outrage over Playboy's 'Virgin Mary' prompts apology

Jewish Art and Craft

Jewish Playboy magazine really got into the Christmas spirit this year.

Deliberately published just days before a Mexican festival devoted to honoring the mother of Jesus Christ, the December edition of Mexico's Playboy ran a cover photo of a nude model resembling the Virgin Mary.

The model's name is Maria Florencia Onori and the cover line reads "We Love You, Maria" in Spanish. Onori is photographed eight different times in different religious clothing used by ecclesiastic authorities.

Immediate outrage prompted Playboy's corporate headquarters to make an official apology. The Chicago-based company stated that the Mexican edition of the magazine is published by a licensee, and the company did not approve or endorse the cover.

"While Playboy Mexico never meant for the cover or images to offend anyone, we recognize that it has created offense, and we as well as Playboy Mexico offer our sincerest apologies," the statement said.

The President of the Catholic League was less than pleased with Playboy's cover.

"Playboy's juxtaposition of the sacred with the profane is a game that many have played, but to exploit Catholicism and insult Latinos in the same breath is novel. The December cover of its Mexican edition demonstrates once again that when it comes to good taste, Playboy remains quintessentially virginal."

The magazine has already sold over 80,000 copies, but Raul Sayrols, publisher of Playboy Mexico, said the cover was actually supposed to represent the Virgin Mary.

"The image is not and never was intended to portray the Virgin of Guadalupe or any other religious figure," Sayrols said. "The intent was to reflect a Renaissance-like mood on the cover."

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Outrage_over_Playboys_Virgin_Mary_prompts_1213.html