Brooke Shields & Farrah Fawcett Trash National Enquirer: Will Readers Stop Buying the Tabloid?

This weekend the National Enquirer got hit with two major black eyes.

Cancer-stricken Farrah Fawcett mauled the supermarket tabloid on her television special for allegedly stealing her medical records from UCLA Hospital.

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Meanwhile, Brooke Shields came out swinging against the tab after she discovered her mom, who is suffering from dementia, was taken out of her nursing home by one of its freelance reporters.

In its defense, the tab claims its professional troublemaker is a friend of Teri Shields and it was a simple get together.

Will this Controversy Hurt Sales?

From Fawcett to Shields, the national spotlight is back on the Enquirer, but not in a good way.

The last time the intrepid publication found itself in the middle of this type of media storm, it had broken one of the biggest stories of 2008 -- the John Edwards affair.

So, will the tabloid be punished where it counts most -- at the newsstand?

That's the natural assumption but I predict the exact opposite will happen.

In fact, the Enquirer will see a surge in newsstand sales over the coming weeks.

Why?

When readers see the tabloid next to those always tasty Life Savers, they'll make their buying decision based on the latest cover story. It's that simple.

Sure, they'll be a little bit more embarrassed than usual -- but they'll still throw it in their grocery cart.

Plus, the continuous mentions in the media will only raise awareness and make it a hot buy.

The good folks upstairs at AMI are probably hoping that's the case because -- as every media watcher knows -- they could sure use the cash.

Visit CoverAwards for more details on Farrah Fawcett and Brooke Shields.

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Comments

[Adrienne Williams - Huffpost Blogger]

This was a good documentary I have to say, so sad, but what the hospital did -- selling her records, so not cool! Someone should go to jail!

[iluvnews44]

I love gossip and entertainment news as much as anyone but I say good for Brooke and Farrah. NE should be charged with kidnapping and theft! How low to mess with 2 very sick women just to get a story!! The NE basically paid for "stolen" information when they hired the hospital clerk to snoop through records. There should be charges brought!

[marrig]

In defense of NE, they often get the facts straight before other publications. A case in point was Scott Peterson.

[textynn]

These trashy tabloids need to evolve. No one enjoys seeing someone sick being shown in a humiliating way and no one is interested in news obtained by mistreating people like Sheild's mom who was totally exploited. There's plenty to dish on without going into such private and hurtful territory.

[kurofalcon]

I have never purchased a tabloid. I refuse to even glance at their headlines. When my children were small, I used to tell them to avert their eyes because trash sticks and they didn't want that garbage in their brains. I have never understood how reasonably intelligent people wasted their money on these magazines. I don't get it, never have.

[Herbert Ragan]

Both Farrah and Brooke should sue this rag for every penny they have.

[Alvin4NY]

Haven't bought a tabloid magazine since Princess Diana died. If people only knew how badly they were rotting their brains worrying about useless information that has nothing to do with them. Pick up a local paper and a history book-get informed and invested on what really matters. If you know the names of all of Angelina's children, but you don't know the name of your home state Senator, well- you get the picture.

[harriettubman]

I don't purchase the NE but I do read their headlines at the store. Fawcett has a legitimate gripe with them. I don't know about the Shields story. From what I've read a reporter friend of Teri's took her out to lunch with the nursing home's permission. If true, that's not taking anyone out without permission.

[ThreeCentsWorth]

If only! The nursing home stunt is the lowest of the low.

[KHAAANNN]

Hell, no!
There is nothing tabloid-reading Americans love more than to believe that somehow, someway, THEIR lives are better than the lives of the celebrities they read about.
They demand dirt on their celebrities, and follow the good-old American Axiom;
"If you can't make it real, make it GOOD."