Ralph Lauren...WTF?

Ralph Lauren has created some seriously disturbingly photoshopped ads lately:

Ralph Lauren's defense? They released this statement:

For over 42 years we have built a brand based on quality and integrity. After further investigation, we have learned that we are responsible for the poor imaging and retouching that resulted in a very distorted image of a woman’s body.

Oh, hey, maybe an apology for basically promoting an anatomically impossible aesthetic would be nice? Anybody else feel like essentially they're saying "Sorry you have a problem with it" ...?

And then there are the reports that the first photoshopped model above, who is a size 4, was fired for being "too fat."

As one body image expert stated, "I think we need to get a grip and designers need to get a clue. If a stunning size 4 model is too overweight to look good in their clothes, then they need to change their clothes, not the model."

Better...and yet. I'd make the argument that if any range of normal sizes beyond a 4 are too overweight to look good in their clothes, they should change their product. Designers should be designing clothes that look good on, well, the MAJORITY of people out there. But that's just me leaving in my little ideal world.

The good thing about this otherwise disturbing screw up is that it IS spreading awareness about how prevalent photoshopping really is and how insane it's getting. At least it seems to be sparking a discussion...?

Ughhh.