Store that censored Elton John magazine cover backs down

A Harps supermarket in Arkansas, became the centre of a storm of controversy after a shopper tweeted a picture of its magazine stands.

It showed a placard with the message 'Family Shield. To protect young Harps shoppers' – usually used to cover pornographic magazines – over the current issue of Us Weekly.

The celebrity magazine features singer Elton John, partner David Furnish and their new baby posing as a family on its cover.

Harps Food Stores President Kim Eskew released this statement: 'When we began to receive 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 cover.

'Our true intention was not to offend anyone in our stores and this incident happened at just one of our 65 locations, which, when brought to our attention, we reversed.'

The story began with a photo tweeted by Jennifer Huddleston on Tuesday at Harps supermarket in Mountain Home, Arkansas.

'This was taken at my local grocery store. I was shocked and horrified. Can you help bring attention to this,' she tweeted.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) told RadarOnline.com they contacted Harps corporate office and were told the shields were put over the magazine cover at this store after 'several' customers complained.