A recent photo shoot with GQ magazine has stirred up controversy for the racy attire and poses Glee cast members Dianna Agron, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith adorn for the shoot. Major media including Arts Beat for The New York Times, The Huffington Post and Broadway.com have all written on the photos and the controversy that has followed.

The Parents Television Council released a statement slamming ‘Glee‘ producers from Tim Winter, the council’s president stating, “It is disturbing that GQ, which is explicitly written for adult men, is sexualizing the actresses who play high school-aged characters on ‘Glee‘ in this way. It borders on pedophilia. By authorizing this kind of near-pornographic display, the creators of the program have established their intentions on the show’s direction. And it isn’t good for families.”

In the wake of a media news storm, Dianna posted a response on her blog about the recent experience:

In the land of Madonna, Britney, Miley, Gossip Girl, other public figures and shows that have pushed the envelope and challenged the levels of comfort in their viewers and fans…we are not the first. Now, in perpetuating the type of images that evoke these kind of emotions, I am sorry. If you are hurt or these photos make you uncomfortable, it was never our intention. And if your eight-year-old has a copy of our GQ cover in hand, again I am sorry. But I would have to ask, how on earth did it get there?

For GQ, they asked us to play very heightened versions of our school characters. A ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ version. At the time, it wasn’t my favorite idea, but I did not walk away. I must say, I am trying to live my life with a sharpie marker approach. You can’t erase the strokes you’ve made, but each step is much bolder and more deliberate. I’m moving forward from this one, and after today, putting it to rest. I am only myself, I can only be me. These aren’t photos I am going to frame and put on my desk, but hey, nor are any of the photos I take for magazines. Those are all characters we’ve played for this crazy job, one that I love and am so fortunate to have, each and every day. If you asked me for my dream photo shoot, I’d be in a treehouse, in a wild costume, war-paint and I’d be playing with my pet dragon. Until then…..

Can somebody please put Dianna in charge of a photo shoot? It would be epic.

Sources: Glee‘ Gone Wild, ‘Glee‘ cast members react to GQ kerfuffle, Parents group says racy ‘Glee‘ GQ spread ‘borders on pedophilia’

Check out Mark Salling as he models some SoCal surfwear in the June issue of GQ (on newsstand nationwide, May 25). Check out all the photographs from the sunny, gorgeous beach-themed photo shoot. I don’t know where in Southern California that is, but I need a vacation there, stat!

Here’s an excerpt from the associated article:

On Glee, Mark Salling plays a high school badass who refers to the glee club as “homo explosion” (and then can’t help but join in on the geeked-out fun). This wasn’t exactly the kind of music Salling expected to make when he moved from Dallas to Hollywood eight years ago with his acoustic guitar strapped to his back, searching for a record deal. When asked if he’ll get to perform any of his original tunes when the Glee kids go on tour this summer—they’re playing sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall, among other venues—he says, laughing, “I think Fox would probably shit a brick over that.”

Read the full article:
Swell Season: Mark Salling at the Beach in Authentic Surfwear Labels