The American Family Association has called on the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores to remove the magazine from shelves, arguing that if "little boys" see the magazine, it will lure them into a lifestyle dependent on a porn addiction.
“Most American dads know the dangers that porn represents to young males. It’s irresponsible of 7-Eleven to display porn in front of boys who pop into 7-11s for a hot dog or a Slurpee,” said the AFA's Randy Sharp. “The cover will create the kind of curiosity that can easily lead [children] into an addictive porn habit. This is not what American families want to see in their neighborhood convenience store.”
Playboy has described the cover as "tongue in cheek," adding that Marge will not be depicted nude inside the magazine, but rather scantily clad, with all of her private parts hidden behind props.
Playboy Editorial Director Jimmy Jellinek said they have no plans to run any more cartoon pictorials in the near future.
"We’re going to take it one fictional celebrity at a time," he said.
Reaction to the pictorial has been mixed, though many pundits have noted that declining sales for Playboy's print edition may have spurred the choice.
"Our question, besides whether Marge is a natural bluehead, should we feel sadder for Hugh Hefner or Matt Groening?" said Fleshbot's Lux Alptraum.
