Last Updated: 14 Feb 2011

US shop bans Elton cover

We'll admit that it was a bit of a surprise when Elton John and his long-term partner David Furnish announced a couple of weeks ago that they had become fathers after a surrogate mother gave birth to their son.

But then, as far as showbiz stories go, it's not exactly shocking is it?

But apparently a chain of stores in the US think it is not only shocking but must be covered up completely so as not to offend their shoppers!

Harps, the chain of supermarkets in America, have placed this shield over the front cover (see left) and have yet to explain why and if it's caused by homophobia. We know that there are constantly pictures on magazines of proud parents and their new babies and there are constant magazine covers that feature barely-clad or even naked women so why choose to cover up this one?