The 10 Most Controverisal Shine Stories of 2012

Gabby Douglas and her hair 

The world cheered when 16-year-old Gabby Douglas won Olympic gold for her gymnastics performance -- the first African-American gymnast ever to do so -- but some people were focused on something other than her fabulous floor routine. On Twitter, people were taking her to task for not properly straightening her hair.

"That's really sad. Gabby is adorable, extraordinarily talented and people are complaining about how she wears her hair?" wrote a reader named "C." "It's pulled back out of her face so she can compete, just like ALL the other girls. Some people will never be satisfied with anything." "As an African American, sadly I don't find it hard to believe that the focus of Gabby's achievement has taken this turn," commented "Sonny." "However, for those of us (African American women) who understand that hair is NOT everything, I salute what an incredible example of accomplishment 

 

Can single moms skip the tip?

Some Shine readers were up in arms after reading about a waitress whose customer left her a note instead of a tip. "Single mom, sorry," it said. "Thank you it was great."

"For shame," wrote "Dana." "For all we know that server is also a single mom." Others thought it had to be a fake.

"I don't believe it," wrote "PW." "The writing style is completely different, any letters that are the same between the two are written in completely different ways." 

 

Should PB&J be banned in schools?

School officials in Viola, Arkansas, confiscated a student's peanut butter and jelly sandwich in September, sparking a debate that still hasn't died down.

"I have allergies (mushrooms) and my husband happens to love deep fried mushrooms. We DO NOT ban it in our house, we take necessary precautions so I don't have an attack," wrote Shine reader "Jiffy." "Kids need to learn these important precautions to grow into adulthood. When they go to a restaurant, a peanut ban won't suffice."

"I have always said that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one," write "Markleaman50." "Place these allergic kids together in a separate room at lunch time and stop making the rest pay for their problem!" 

 

Magazine's semi-nude Michelle Obama cover 

The photo illustration shows U.S. first lady Michelle Obama's face superimposed on a 19th-century portrait of a bare-breasted African slave, and fans the world over weren't pleased. Editors at Magazine Fuera de Serie said that they were trying to honor her as a great woman who "seduced the American people," but most readers didn't see it that way. "Still trying to figure out how superimposed photo of Michelle Obama's head on a semi nude slave is supposed to represent strength," wrote "Ducky. "Some things are just a little much, and this is one of them.""Did the Spaniards also showed their First Lady half naked on the cover?" asked "Conservative in Libs Clothing." "Hey, I don't like the policies of Mrs. Obama's husband but this photo shopped picture is totally tasteless!" 

 

Victoria's Secret geisha lingerie

After seeing the Asian-inspired mesh teddy-and-accessories set, a blogger named Jacinto wrote: "It's the kind of overt racism masked behind claims of inspired fashion and exploring sexual fantasy that makes my skin crawl." Shine readers disagreed. "How on earth is this racist?" commented "Megan." "There simply using another culture as an inspiration for this unfortunate outfit. They're not saying that this is how all Asian women dress or something."
"I'm sorry but she's calling racism on an outfit based on traditional clothing?" asked "Ndoki." "Isn't ALL clothing based off something that's already been done? By this logic corsets and garters and most lingerie would be racist to the French, or other various countries of origin…I've never seen someone so offended at having an icon of a culture portrayed as sexy. I'd take that as a compliment. 
 

Military moms breastfeeding in uniform

Is it wrong for a new mom to breastfeed while wearing company-issued clothing? What if that outfit is a U.S. Military uniform? Air National Guardsmen Terran Echegoyen-McCabe and Christina Luna were reprimanded after being photographed breastfeeding their babies while in uniform, and the woman who organized the photo shoot, military spouse Crystal Scott, told Yahoo! Shine that she was later fired over the photo. "You are in a uniform of a US Service Member. You should be a professional first and foremost and breastfeeding in public in uniform is not looking very professional period," commented "Rabbit." "They sell breastpumps. Pump the night before and if you need to feed your kid in the middle of the day use that." 

 

Parents who tattoo their kids

A North Carolina mom was arrested after giving her 11-year-old daughter a tattoo, and Shine readers were more than happy to weigh in. "I have nothing against tattoos," wrote "Lesley." "But I also think that 11 is too young to really understand the 'forever' aspect of it. An intelligent parent would make them wait." "This mom is a professional tattoo artist and obviously gave her consent for the tattoo," wrote "Kerri." "It is a tiny little heart, it's not going to bother the girl or anyone else in the future, so who cares!!!! I hope they drop all charges and some people would just mind their own business. If we put as much effort into our own lives as we do butting into others, maybe the world may be a better place." 
 

The Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood showdown

In February, the Susan G. Komen Foundation ended its grants to Planned Parenthood -- and then quickly reversed their decision when the social media backlash started. The reversal didn't do them many favors: People who supported the funding cut were furious that the breast cancer charity seemed to be backing down. Shine readers were on both sides of the issue. "The issue is CANCER, not abortion. How many women without health care will not receive life saving breast cancer screenings because of Komen's decision?" asked "Becky." "It's a sad day when a breast cancer foundation turns their back on women because of political issues." 
 

Urban Outfitter's curse-filled catalog

The hipster clothing-and-home decor company laced its 2012 holiday catalog with plenty of profanity -- and readers took offense to both the content and the timing. "This isn't 'edgy.' It's crass, low-brow and another sad commentary on what society has become," commented "DevilsAdvocate." "This is also not about Generation this vs. Generation that. My office is full of so-called professional adults, yet the use of F-bombs, sexist, racist and offensive language is used everyday!" "Age has nothing to do with it," another Yahoo! User wrote. "Unacceptable. For CHRISTMAS items? What a disgrace." Others saw humor in the situation: "You have to use words like #$%$ when that's what you're selling," quipped "Quint."
   
Human Barbie dolls

It's the latest scary trend: using diet, plastic surgery, and make-up tricks to look like a real-life Barbie doll. Readers were mostly turned-off by Valeria Lukyanova, even when they found out that she's probably just faking."Here's a question: who cares if it's photoshop, plastic surgery or little elves who have made her look like this?" wrote "Raven." "Personally, I think she has some serious issues with her self-image."

Others got straight to the point: "This is creepy," commented "Mik." "Why would anyone do this?"