Heather Morris Poses For Domestic Abuse-Themed Shoot (PHOTOS)

We were pretty dumbfounded when we saw these strange photos in the Daily Mail yesterday. Heather Morris of "Glee" fame posed for photographer Tyler Shields, who the UK paper called "young Hollywood's favourite photographer" (sure, we'll go with that), for a "confronting shoot."

"Confronting" is right -- looking at the images of the TV show's ditzy blonde Britney with a bruised eye and hands tied up in an plastic cord felt like being confronted with some glamorous-looking domestic abuse. And what is Heather doing drinking out of an iron?

Of the shoot, Shields told the Daily Mail happily, "No photoshop no tricks, all Heather. I was tied up, she was tied up, everybody got in the game. She even put the hot iron on my assistant Jordon's face. He is okay!"

But others aren't finding the photos so funny. Media outlets have condemned Shields for making light of abusive treatment of women, particularly in a household setting. Rita Smith, executive director for the Denver-based National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, told E!, "I don't know if Tyler is aware but I'm quite sure there are plenty of women who have been abused by these kinds of household appliances and children as well being hit with electrical cords."

But Shields defended his artistic concept, telling E!, "In no way were we promoting domestic violence. We wanted to do a bruised-up Barbie shoot and that's exactly what we did!"

See the pictures in question below -- does this photo shoot send the wrong message?

UPDATE: TMZ reports that in response to the controversy, photographer Tyler Shields will be auctioning off the most debated photo, the close-up of Heather Morris' bruised eye, with all proceeds going to "a top domestic violence charity."

Comments

[Christine Gulley]

08:53 PM on 10/12/2011

I think this is a horrible shoot!! Domestic violence is not a game!! Women dont smile and have fun when they ARE BEING ABUSED!!! SHE OUGHT TO BE ASHAME OF HERSELF!! THIS IS A MESS!!! I am a survivor of domestic violence! This greatly offends me!! I dont care who she is and how much money she makes! Thats the problem people will do anything for money even if it means making a joke out of a serious issue!!

[nbart71]

05:35 PM on 09/06/2011

She looks great no matter what.

[PomDeTerre]

03:14 PM on 09/06/2011

Not only do these photos glamourize abuse, they belittle women. This is so 1950's and so wrong.

[Christine Gulley]

08:54 PM on 10/12/2011

I agree!!! Its horrible!!

[Aitch5]

09:56 AM on 09/06/2011

Epic Fail.

[mrsjones01]

11:55 PM on 09/05/2011

Tasteless.

[redkittyred]

10:29 PM on 09/05/2011

whatever. standard art school fare

[Exotic Madchen]

07:38 PM on 09/05/2011

I agree these pics are just trying to glamourize abuse make it seem almost sexy like that S&M crap *cough Rihanna*, but if this were another star instead of Heather (who is not all that well known) and a more trendy, popular star (like, say, Christina Hendricks, Vanessa Hudgens, Lady Gaga, etc.) most of you wouldn't be saying this is wrong.

[shelagh63]

01:09 PM on 09/05/2011

Taste is subjective.

[mystshy]

12:31 PM on 09/05/2011

GOOD FOR HER...............STOP ABUSE OF AALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[KatelynnH]

12:30 PM on 09/05/2011

This is... odd...

[pixgirl922]

10:57 AM on 09/05/2011

A glamorized, sexualized take on domestic abuse - just wrong.

[mdipary2004]

10:01 AM on 09/05/2011

This is a good read http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1247

[NewGeorgiaLady]

09:39 AM on 09/05/2011

I have been an abused woman and have been through the worst of the worst. Anyone could look at this and see that she looks nothing like a truly abused person.A purple eye with no swelling is just a bunch of bad make-up. I don't see it as being terrible; I see the photos as less than good. People need to lighten up and quit trying to censor everything that comes their way.

[Exotic Madchen]

07:36 PM on 09/05/2011

agreed, and normally abused women (and people in general) aren't so glamourous-looking. it's almost like a pin-up girl shoot.

[PlayTOE]

08:20 AM on 09/05/2011

This may not be the best effort at bring domestic violence to the attention of people, but it is effective in showing that domestic fighting is a problem.

I did think that the girl spanking him back (actually in front) with a hot iron was making a very useful point.

The drinking from an iron brought to (my) mind another recent story of a child who was killed by being made to stand in the hot sun for a week with no water.

Bringing these issues into peoples consciousness is important.

[A Denise Moore]

06:43 AM on 09/05/2011

I love "Glee". Heather Morris' "Brittany" character is truly a delicious ditzy funny gurl with loads of talent so I'm going to chalk this so called photo shoot as a mistake in bad judgement, youth and a sheltered life.