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Updated 5pm
THERE ARE REPORTS that The Sun has stopped publishing pictures of topless models on page three.
The newspaper has not published a picture of a topless model on page three since Friday – after 44 years of doing so.
The Sun faced pressure from anti-sexism campaigners, politicians and student bodies claiming it was sexist.
The paper is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News UK and Murdoch himself described it as “old fashioned” last year.
The Guardian has reported that it had spoken to “a series of insiders” who said the feature has been dropped.
While The Times – which has the same publisher as The Sun – reported that the tabloid decided to quietly drop the feature.
However, the head of PR for the tabloid, David Sharpe, is tweeting about the reports calling them ‘speculation’:
However, very little clarity has been given by the paper on the issue:
A petition to stop The Sun publishing Page 3 gathered more than 217,000 signatures.
The No More Page 3 protest group wrote a message on its Facebook page which read:
Wow..we’re hearing the Sun may have dropped Pg3. This could be truly historic news and a great day for people power… We don’t know the details for sure and there’still lots to be done… But this could be a huge step for challenging media sexism.
Today’s edition features Hollyoaks actresses running along a beach in their bikinis. However, readers are told to go online to see “Page 3 Lucy from London”.
The Irish edition of The Sun dropped Page 3 in 2013. The Sun’s Irish editor, Paul Clarkson, told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland last year that he was listening to readers and that there were ‘cultural differences’ between Ireland and Britain.
He also said his decision was commercial and was about the need to retain sales and the possibility of attracting new buyers.
The news has seen huge comment online, with a range of opinions:
The Karate Suit / Twitterpretty sure there's loads of other stuff that should be banned first, like loose women for example, which is 383964 times more sexist #page3
— Dean (@thekaratesuit) January 20, 2015
Holly Flynn / TwitterMuch as I loath #page3 should we not be trying to get people to not just view topless women as meat instead of telling them to cover up?
— tismeself (@WexicaninDublin) January 20, 2015
A Fine Gael councillor who criticised ‘feminazis’ for the change later apologised for his comments.
What do you think of the move?
Additional reporting by Aoife Barry
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Best of luck to then but would it not be better to have 5,600,000 jackpot winners who all get one euro each, thus spreading this tremendous good fortune around a bit?
@Neal Ireland Hello.: if you won it i doubt you’d be typing that comment .
@Finbarr Lucey: True. We must therefore conclude that I, alas, did not win the jackpot.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: not this time but never say never
@Neal Ireland Hello.: I don’t think too many would spend the fiver to play if the top prize was a euro.
@Neal Ireland Hello.: The 2 lads have fairy picked holes in your statement what! You must feel silly now :D
@Danny Llama: Yeah, I’ve been suitably humbled!
@Neal Ireland Hello.: 100 winners of 56,000 would be the job
@Neal Ireland Hello.: I often thought if they had 5 one million euro winners more people would play but I’m obviously wrong cause I’m sure they’ve ran the figures on it.
Must be such an amazing feeling. Ringing your boss to say you’re not coming back… Ever. Not having to set an alarm at night. Buying a car and not needing to ask how much it is. Actually, going onto carzone and sorting the cars from most expensive to least expensive. That’s the dream :)
@Peter Cavey:
There was a bugatti Veron for sale in Galway on cars Ireland a while back at over 2 million, gone now.
Wasn’t won in cork in a long time. Fair play. enjoy.
That’ll buy another yacht for some poor soul in Crosshaven!
@Tweety McTweeter: and membership of the RCYC!
@mcgoo: a spot on the waiting list perhaps
@Dave O Keeffe: not with thats money
@Fergal Kelly: depends in how long they want the membership to last
Ticket bought in Crosshaven in Cork apparently. Enjoy ye lucky… *bleep*
Four numbers + bonus last night and got the large sum of €50! Prizes at this level are useless.
It’s me folks,It’s me.
You’re all invited to a big slap up meal in McDonald’s today ok.
I’ll meet you all at the Drive-tru in Cork city at 2pm.Neat dress essential. I’m Rich!
The Lottery – a tax on people who are bad at maths.
Lotto as dear as ten fags and I gave them up 25 years ago, id guess it’s as good as winning a small fortune no need to waste money on another addiction
@Gerard Heery: have another go there Gerard.
I would laugh if it was George Hook, buying a ticket whilst visiting his son…..it could also be Bibi….I
I wish it was me
It was me!!
have your say