O'Hare's Magazine Cover-Up

By Marcus Gilmer in Miscellaneous on Jun 25, 2009 4:20PM

This month's Esquire and GQ covers. Only one was censored at O'Hare Hudson News branches

Above, you'll find two magazine covers. On the left, this month's Esquire cover featuring model Bar Rafaeli and on the right, this month's GQ cover featuring actor Sacha Baron Cohen as his character Bruno (who ohbytheway has that Bruno movie opening soon). Now, guess which one the managers at the O'Hare Hudson News branches have decided to cover up with black wrapping usually reserved for more provocative magazines such as Hustler. It seems Cohen's/Bruno's pose was a wee bit too much for Hudson News while Rafaeli was apparently easier on the eyes. The Trib dug into the subject a bit and here's what they came up with:

A spokeswoman at Hudson's corporate headquarters in Rutherford, N.J., said local managers have the option of covering any magazine that may be seen as offensive. The manager at the O'Hare stand couldn't be reached for an explanation.

Debbie Vallee, director of field services for Source Interlink Cos., which distributes magazines to O'Hare and Midway, said the decision to cover up a cover can be arbitrary.

"It could have just been a complaint from one customer," she said.

The Trib points out that the GQ cover is exposed in all its glory at other Hudson locations around town, including at Midway and Olgivie. Of course, we're sure Cohen doesn't mind the added publicity.