ABC, FOX ISSUE PLUS-SIZED DENIAL OF LANE BRYANT CHARGES

Both Fox and ABC have denied accusations by “plus-size” women’s fashion company Lane Bryant that they were employing a “double standard” when they asked that the company’s ads for its new line of lingerie be reedited. The company said on its website earlier this week that Fox employs one standard for, say, Victoria Secret ads and another for its own, which feature busty large-size women. Fox said that it frequently asks advertisers — including Victoria’s Secret — to re-edit spots and that indeed the Victoria’s Secret ad that aired on American Idol this week “was specifically produced to meet Fox’s standards.” It also observed that it has aired Playtex ads for “full-figured women” on Idol. ABC simply denied Lane Bryant’s accusation out of hand. “Their statements are not true,” it said. “The ad was accepted.”