Elton baby apology

Arkansas-based supermarket chain Harps received international condemnation yesterday when one of its stores censored the latest issue of US Weekly for featuring Elton John on the cover with his partner David Furnish and their new baby son.

The company’s President Kim B. Eskew today issued a statement explaining that individual store managers are given the authority to censor magazine covers that generate complaints from customers.

“In this case our store manager received some complaints, and as has been our custom, placed the shield over the cover of the magazine,” he said.

However, the company immediately removed the shields when news of the ban sparked outrage from the gay community.

“When we began receiving complaints at our corporate office, we reviewed the magazine in question, removed the shield and are selling the magazine in all our locations today without any shield.”

“Harps has never and would never discriminate,” Eskew continued. “We are sorry that these events caused misunderstandings.”

Baby Zachary was born on Christmas day via an unnamed surrogate. Elton is believed to be the child’s biological father.

Via Perez Hilton.