Written by Kaiser at Celebitchy

I was thinking about writing something along these lines yesterday, but I’m glad I waited. It seems the backlash continues to grow against this week’s Life & Style cover featuring Shiloh Jolie-Pitt’s tomboy ways. Perhaps this is because L&S did the craziest, most hysterical, most disgusting piece on how “Angelina is turning Shiloh into a boy” and the piece even featured a snotty quote from a spokesperson from Focus on the Family who farted out some nonsense about “Little girls have never been women before… gender distinction is very healthy.” The overwhelming majority of commenters on this site, and others, were outraged by the cover, and the now the story has become “Jesus Christ, leave the little girl alone, and everyone associated with the story should have their careers end. Now.” Gawker even ran a piece called “Can We Stop Calling Shiloh Jolie-Pitt a Lesbian?” Here you go:

The tabs are freaking out that Shiloh Jolie-Pitt looks like a LITTLE BOY; this issue was of such pressing importance that Life & Style put it on the cover.

But people have been freaking out over this for a couple months.

In January Bonnie Fuller wrote on her blog Hollywood Life: “In recent photos she’s been decked out in a fedora, tie, camouflage pants, boy vest, pirate sword, navy knit skull and crossbones hat, black jeans, gray jackets, black and white skull socks and sneakers. Even the stuffed animal she carries is blue. Never ever is Shiloh dolled up in anything remotely girlish. Her blond hair is hidden under hats or left unbrushed and pushed to the side of her face. Her sister Zahara Jolie-Pitt, however, is allowed to have her girly touches. HER Mary Poppins hair was pulled into a purple barrette and a pretty bracelets escaped from under the arm of her coat.”

Fuller also quotes a “psychiatrist” who says that the way Shiloh dresses is because it’s a way for Angelina to express her bisexuality.

And the Early Show this morning picked up on the Life & Style story; co-anchor co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez “posed the question of whether or not that could confuse a child about their gender identity.”

What is this, 1950?

At least Salon came through with a voice of reason. Mary Elizabeth Williams writes that if she had as many kids as the Jolie-Pitts, her daughters would have buzz cuts.

[From Gawker]

Ugh, do you know how much I hate the demon named Bonnie Fuller? Meanwhile, that VH1 stylist, Alana Kelen, who was quoted in the L&S story, has sent a note to Jezebel about the situation. Just to recap, Kelen told the magazine: “Shiloh is pushing the boundaries of a tomboy look and crossing over to cross-dresser territory.” Here are the basics of Kelen’s “apology”.

I have lost sleep these past 2 nights due to the horrible thoughts and comments they included and attributed to me in this particular story for Life & Style, as they were taken completely out of context. They use me often for style quotes, so I had no idea they would twist my words, and they always contact me for final approval, which they did not do this time around.

I left this post as a comment to your story: “My career has been all about personal expression through clothing, and I am the biggest believer that any person should wear anything they choose, regardless of age or sex. The quote I did provide to Life & Style actually praised Shiloh’s parents for letting her be who she wants to be, and included that she has two cool older brothers who she is probably trying to emulate, and that she looks up to, and that there is NOTHING at all wrong with it … quite the opposite. I was hoping it would influence other parents to let their children do the same.”

Again, I am sorry that my words were misinterpreted, and please be assured that I would never say anything bad about any person, especially a child.

Really, I am in tears right now because this just makes me sick. In the past, L&S have often used me for style quotes, and they always give me final approval, so I trusted them for this piece, mistakenly. The actual quote began with “Some might think …” but they conveniently took that out to make it seem the thought was my own, and did not contact me for that final approval.

Many of my friends in life & at work are in fact lesbian, gay & transgendered, and that is why this is most upsetting to me. They can vouch that I would NEVER say such things. It’s just not the person I am.

Would love if you could include my thoughts, less about restoring my reputation, but more for helping people believe that is is natural and right to let children and people in general express themselves any way they choose, in clothing & in life.

[From Jezebel]

I don’t get it. Either she wrote that Shiloh was a cross-dresser, or she didn’t. I get that she didn’t want the “cross-dressing” comment to be published (now that it has been published and scorned), but I still don’t see how you can take “Shiloh” and “cross dressing” out of context. You’re still putting those words together in a sentence.

Meanwhile, GLAAD is getting involved now. GLAAD’s Senior Director of Media Programs, Rashad Robinson released a statement saying in part: “Perpetuating gender stereotypes and targeting children for ridicule about the way they dress is unacceptable, regardless of their parent’s celebrity status. Media has a responsibility to differentiate between credible authorities and politically motivated (and usually self-proclaimed) ‘experts’ like Focus on the Family’s Glenn Stanton, who is not an expert on developmental issues or gender identity.” Well said.