Cosmo to let ‘our readers’ decide after nominating Sonia Kruger for Woman of the Year
The elephantine lead times of magazines has left Bauer and its top fashion brand Cosmopolitan scrambling after it nominated Nine star Sonia Kruger in its Women of the Year Awards months after her on-air call for a ban on Muslim immigration.
The September edition of the magazine featuring the awards hits the stands this week, but the nominees for the awards were set in stone before Kruger’s comments about Muslim immigration went to air.
Having named Kruger as one of the four finalists in the TV presenter category, it has since released a statement saying her views were in no way endorsed by the magazine.
“Cosmopolitan would like to make it clear the nomination of Sonia Kruger in the Fun Fearless Female Women of the Year Awards was made for the September issue of the magazine and before her comments on immigration and other issues were made,” a spokesperson told Mumbrella.
“The political, professional or personal views of any nominee are in no way endorsed or supported by Cosmopolitan. This applies to remarks made by Ms Kruger.
“Our readers will decide which of these nominees deserves to win.”
Kruger unleashed her rant against Muslim immigration on Today in July, saying she agreed with right wing commentator Andrew Bolt and wanted Muslim immigration to be stopped.
“Personally I think that Andrew Bolt has a point here, that there is a correlation between the number of people who are Muslim in a country and the number of terrorist attacks,” Kruger said
Today show co-hosts Lisa Wilkinson and David Campbell looked on stunned as Kruger made her statement, before Campbell said he would like to see freedom of religion.
The comment’s caused an uproar and the presenter then went to Twitter to try and explain herself, saying that as a mother she had fears and that she should be able to have the conversation.
“As a mother, I believe it’s vital in a democratic society to be able to discuss these issues without automatically being labelled racist,” she tweeted at the time.
Kruger was subjected to a stream of social media abuse after her comments.
The presenter took several days away from the show before returning to offer a clarification of her views and saying the images she had seen after the Nice terror attacks had left her deeply upset and concerned such an act could happen in Australia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VPmCedLFME
Ironically the same edition of the magazine featuring her nomination, also features the launch of Cosmopolitan’s campaign featuring celebrities highlighting the devastating effects of emotional and verbal abuse.
NRL Footy Show co-host Erin Molan, Wentworth and Rake actress Danielle Cormack, supermodel Robyn Lawley, 800 Words actress Michelle Langstone and media personality Anna Heinrich have all joined to support the campaign, despite not being victims of such abuse themselves.
If cosmopolitan means ‘familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures’ then Sonia’s about the last person who should be Cosmopolitan Woman of the Year.
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Dear Cosmopolitan,
I read that Cosmopolitan have distanced the publication from nominee Sonia Kruger after she spoke out against Muslim immigration.
I am so much disappointed in Cosmo doing this. lets face it we Australian’s have a freedom of speech – why does everyone bring up the word “racist” when we make an expression and /or talk about muslims, aboriginals, Indians, asians, italian, greeks etc.
I too believe we should be able to discuss these issues without automatically being labelled racist.
Let me put it to COSMO another way – when we australian’s go to another country -we abide by their rules and culture. I’ve never seen an australian call anyone being racists in their country overseas?
I won’t be buying COSMOPOLITAN magazine again now that you have taken action against Sonya Kruger just for speaking about the terrorists acts the worlds is now facing – its frightening.
regards Maria
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@Maria
” when we australian’s go to another country -we abide by their rules and culture”
Are you kidding me? Have you been to Thailand, Bali, or any of the Middle East? In each instance, us Aussies live in enclaves, eating our own food and drinking a lot of booze (in cultures which frown upon it). Even in continental Europe we have a reputation as getting drunk and loose. Let’s not pretend that we assimilate any better than immigrants here.
It was only yesterday that a bunch of Aussies were arrested in Malaysia for stripping down to underwear made out of the Malaysian national flag while drinking booze out of shoes. Certainly doesn’t sound like abiding by their rules, does it? I can only imagine what the likes of you would make of it if the situation was reversed…
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Why is it that no person especially a woman can voice concerns over Muslim reugees?
Any comment is ladelled, a rant, racist, hate speech or other defamatory remark.
The Media is supposed to be Unbiased but you all take offence to any contradiction to the Government or over zealous Politically Correct groups.
Australian women have a right to be worried. Look at the increased rapes, gang rapes, attacks & murders directly attributed to reugees throughout Europe.
If Australian (I use the term very loosely) Journalists are going to report news make it truthful not edited, white washed make believe.
Please contact me if you like & I would be happy any time to show or discuss. Mohammed, his teachings, Koran or any other hate inciting part of Islam.
I love Australia, freedom of speech & equality to all. But to pander to a religion that’s very teachings are for division, deception & mistreatment of women.
If by loving & caring about Australians I an a bigot, racist & this gets called a rant, so be it haha
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kgb@maria
It is not an offence to wear speedos in Malaysia & you can buy the same Malaysian flag speedos at many shops there.
On the point of Australians living in enclaves when overseas to party & get drunk etc. The Main reason Australians working overseas live in enclaves is for Security. As Australian hostages are prized opertunities for ransom. We mostly eat food prepared under sanitary conditions. Drink water from bottles & yes some younger people get drunk at times. But young business people from all countries sometimes get drunk.
As far as I have always been told on trips “Australians are friendly & enjoy other countries ttaditions”.
Get your facts right please?
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KGB, that isn’t the important point here….. Maria couldn’t be more correct re freedom of speech…. although in this day in age, I’m not sure if we do have it anymore. Overrun by political correctness and easily offended bleeding hearts.
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I know nothing about magazine publishing but I can’t help wondering why their lead times are still so long regardless of todays technologies which allow newspapers to go to print and be distributed to customers a matter of hours after the final stories have been filed.
Sure, magazines are a bit more complex having to be stapled or bound etc, but the current lead times seem to be ridiculous, to an outsider anyway.
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“The September edition of the magazine featuring the awards hits the stands this week” No wonder print is in trouble if they are publishing editions a month late.
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Because sometimes you have to wait for confirmed advertising to make sure you can pay for the thing to be printed, bound or stapled! It’s not an easy task trust me.
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Well said. We need to look at ourselves before we judge others.
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So is it racist for other countries citizens to frown upon the way Australians act overseas? Surely it has to be, as we Australians are branded racist if we do the same thing with other cultures here
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