CINCINNATI, Ohio - On Friday August 15, at 11:30 a.m. (CST), apparel company I Love Vagina's booth, including items from manufacturer Hustler Lingerie, was forcibly removed from Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, reportedly by order of the governor. No pornography, videos, or suggestive material of any kind were available for sale.
"We were told to pack up and leave and not make any trouble," said Drew Fin-Kelson, president of I Love Vagina. "Police were gathered and we were threatened with physical ejection and arrest if we did not move expeditiously. I asked what we were charged with and one of the officers said 'We'll come up with something.'"
Southern California company I Love Vagina had been vending a number of Hustler Lingerie items, including panties and t-shirts, as part of Vagina's presence at the Projekt Revolution music tour, featuring acts such as rock group Linkin Park. Sales had been strong, and there were no other incidents related to the brands.
Wilson Kello, creative director at Hustler Lingerie told ANB the story as relayed to him by Fin-Kelson: "Drew was approached at Riverbend by the head of security and by two undercover officers. They drew him aside and told him to pack up and leave without giving explanation. He was told the sheriff's office and the governor did not want him there. He complied because he has been having a good relationship with tour so far, and wanted to keep it that way, and is still on tour. Drew is lodging an official complaint with the city of Cincinnati Sheriff's Department and the Office of the Governor."
This is not the first time Hustler and Cincinnati haven't "been on the same page." In the early 1970s, Larry Flynt opened one a Hustler club in the city. By 1977, he was being sued there for obscenity and pandering in the nation's most significant obscenity trial. In 1999 he and brother Jimmy Flynt fought similar charges in that same city.
When asked if he thought this constitutes a violation of his constitutional rights, Fin-Kelson simply stated, "Definitely."
Investigation into this matter continues, and ANB will be here to provide updates.
Hustler Hollywood has a retail store in Cincinnati, on 411 Elm Street.
