LeAnn Rimes Has Magazine Editor Bent Out of ‘Shape’

LeAnn Rimes graced the cover of the October issue of Shape magazine, clad in a teeny red bikini. But the magazine's editor admits that she's now the one seeing red, for having put the singer on the cover (accompanied by the headline 'How Working Out Saved Me").

US magazine reported that Shape editor-in-chief Valerie Latona apologized to readers after hearing from those who felt that featuring the recently-divorced singer (now dating actor Eddie Cibrian) on the cover was in poor taste -- considering that LeAnn's relationship with the actor began when they were both married.

"You are all in good company," Latona reportedly wrote in an e-mail which was obtained exclusively by the website TooFab. "As you all agree Shape has made a terrible mistake in putting LeAnn Rimes on the cover. Please know that our putting her on the cover was not meant to put a husband-stealer on a pedestal -- but to show [through LeAnn's personal story] how we all are human. And this woman in particular found strength in exercise in what she said was her most difficult personal moment."

Later, however, Latona clarified her stance, saying, in a statement: "My comments have been taken out of context. I used the words of the few unhappy readers who wrote in. I stand by the fact that LeAnn's story is compelling -- and her courage and strength in the face of so much adversity is compelling. That is why I put her on the cover of Shape for what is now the third time. The fact is a mere 40 readers out of almost six million readers wrote in to complain calling LeAnn a 'husband stealer' and a 'terrible mistake for Shape.' I wrote to those women apologizing that our cover choice did not make them happy -- as I have done for other cover stars in the past."

In the accompanying article, LeAnn admitted, "I think any relationship is hard to get out of, and I don't think the way I did it was right. I truly believe there are lessons in it for me to learn."

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