Follow Zap2it:
J.Crew ad controversy: Jennifer Lopez paints her son's toenails; 'Today' interviews 'My Princess Boy' author
Twitter
Google
Much hay has been made about a new J.Crew ad depicting a mother having painted her son's toenails bright pink. Oh, the horror, right?"Today" got in on the action Wednesday (April 13), interviewing Cheryl Kilodavis, a Seattle woman who wrote a children's book called "My Princess Boy," because her 5-year-old son Dyson is partial to wearing dresses.
Kilodavis comments, "I feel like the ad is very natural, very real. I love the fact that it shows a mom who is supporting her son. Maybe the little boy likes pink and likes his toenails painted. Is it harming anyone? Why does it have to be categorized as gender confusion? We just have to get to a place of acceptance."
Robin Silverman, a child and teen development expert, adds that this ad is showing a child at play, which is "normal development." She also says the controversy has gone over to the "ridiculous" and that it's not going to cause gender identity problems any more than when she, as a female child, put on pants and dug in the dirt.
"Today" also conducted a poll about the J.Crew ad and as of 9:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday, there are just over 32,000 votes, with 46% saying the ad is "adorable," 47% saying it's "inappropriate" and 8% saying they "don't know, but want that pullover."
Meanwhile, actress/singer Jennifer Lopez has been chosen as People's 2011 Most Beautiful Woman. In her interview for the magazine's Most Beautiful People issue, she says:
"[Daughter Emme] is very girly-girl, just like me since I was very little. She loves for me to paint her nails. She lays out her clothes on the floor like I do with my stylist and she's like, 'This matches very good!' [Son Max] wants to paint his nails too. Because for him, it's just paint. He's like, 'I want the blue!'"
What do you think, Pop2it readers?
Follow Zap2it on Twitter and Zap2it on Facebook for the latest news and buzz
Photo/Video credit: J.Crew
Related pics
Zap2it Elite Sheet Must Reads from the Web's In-Crowd
Featured Partners
At that age, kids don't care one way or the other. It's ridiculous to think painting a toenail might make the kids gay or transvestites later. Frankly at that age you can't really tell if that's a boy or a girl - nevermind the toes, what about the hair? The kid will make up his own mind when he gets older which way the saloon door swings. Painting a toenail and giving him a girly haircut (nothing new there - I had one of those when I was 6, too, and it was the 1970s which was even worse for that sort of thing) isn't going to influence that.
People need to get a life. If the kid and the parents are enjoying themselves, then who are we to read anything more into it. The kid will grow up to be who he is meant to be regardless of toenail painting.
More people should be this open and then maybe we wouldnt have some of the problems that exist in this world where people feel the need to force their beliefs on others in the name of "Protecting The Children"!
omg who cares. that's a sweet picture. he probably saw his mom doing it and wanted it too. it doesn't mean anything. he's just a kid being a kid exploring. there is nothing wrong with that.
Who exactly is being hurt here? I see a loving mom and son in the picture. Is there anything more significant than that. I don't know why some people are complaining about this. With all the problems in this world -you would think loving your child in any special way would not cause controversy. People who object to this really need to get a life!
the critics should be way more upset about advertising ads done by abercrombie, etc. showing more than necessary targeted at the teenage customers.
any faithful jcrew customer knows that the men are always hunky -- and clothed. the women are very feminine -- even in suits with oxford shoes. no hidden message there
First let me say "woohoo" to the people that posted before me.Thanks for having such an open mind and understanding that it doesn't play into sexuality. The sooner people learn that you don't become gay because of your surroundings or the toys that you play with as a child the better. You are either born gay or not.
I want to second that woohoo.
What a silly thing to be concerned about.
Gay.
My brother dressed in my mom's high heels and skirts as a kid, just as I (a girl) pretended to shave with soap suds and the back of a comb. This is very normal. A friend's son asked for a babydoll once. Was he revealing his true gender identity? Actually, yes. Turns out he wanted to mimic his nurturing, supportive father whom he had seen feeding, bathing, and dressing his younger brother. How sweet!
All I see is that J Crew is now getting a lot of free publicity over a simple photo. Kids are kids they are curious, love to learn, and have lots of fun. Now give it a break. Its just a colour. Who cares, really?