…Researched and contributed by Solomon Thomas.
Playboy Magazine’s special edition with Marlène Schiappa, France’s Secretary of State, on the cover sold out in just three hours, according to reports.
The magazine features an interview with Schiappa about women’s and gay rights, as well as abortion.
Some politicians, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, criticized the decision to feature Schiappa, but the public seemed to enjoy the issue, with 100,000 copies selling out on the day of release.
Playboy director Jean-Christophe Florentin announced on French radio that an additional 60,000 copies would be reprinted.
This issue was released during a time of social tension in Paris, with large-scale riots occurring in response to Emmanuel Macron’s decision to increase the retirement age in France.
Women’s rights activist Sandrine Rousseau, who is also a Green MP, questioned the timing of the release, given the social context.
Rousseau stated that women’s bodies should be able to be exposed anywhere, but there is a social context to consider.
Schiappa, who has been called the most “Playboy compatible” of ministers in Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet, defended the magazine issue on Twitter.
In response to criticism, Schiappa wrote that defending the right of women to do what they want with their bodies is important, everywhere and all the time.
Schiappa has caused controversy in the past, including reciting lines from Eve Ensler’s Vagina Monologues in 2018.
Commentary:
The release of the special edition of Playboy with Marlène Schiappa on the cover highlights the ongoing debate around women’s bodies and their representation in the media.
While some politicians criticized the decision to feature Schiappa, the public responded positively, with the issue selling out in record time.
However, the timing of the release during a time of social tension in Paris has been questioned by some, including women’s rights activist Sandrine Rousseau.
Schiappa defended the issue on Twitter, emphasizing the importance of defending women’s right to do what they want with their bodies.
This controversy also underscores the ongoing debate around the objectification of women in the media and the role of media outlets in promoting gender equality.