via Glooce
A One Direction fanzine has been criticised after it featured a "voodoo doll" of TV presenter Caroline Flack who dated one of the band's members, Harry Styles.
One Direction & Friends dubbed Flack, who presents ITV2's The X Factor spinoff, The Xtra Factor, an "old woman" and "foul mistress" who spends her time reading hate mail and looks like a goat.
The US magazine featured a picture of Flack with pins sticking out of her, highlighting her so-called "crows' feet" and "dirty blonde dye job".
It criticised the 32-year-old for dating Styles, who is 18, saying "date boys your age, not your shoe size" and added: "Note: zero engagement rings. Because no one wants to be with her."
Irish TV and radio presenter Conor Behan said on Twitter: "This article for One Direction fans slating Caroline Flack is hideously sexist and has gone viral for obvious reasons."
Others used Twitter to describe it as "pretty disgusting and immature" and "astoundingly horrible". Another added: "Where THIS is deemed appropriate in a fan magazine aimed at young female One Direction fans."
The One Direction magazine, published by Topix Media Lab, is described on iTunes as the "greatest magazine dedicated to the greatest band in the world".
New York-based Topix Media says it manufactures "best in class mass market consumer magazines".
Its titles also include Celebrity Astrology, Reality Stars – Where Are They Now? and A Tribute to TV's Greatest Judges.
Its website says it has a team "comprised of the most talented editors, writers and designers in the magazine industry".
The One Direction article, published earlier this year, began: "Never before have 1D fans united in greater numbers than to share their 'feelings' for Caroline Flack, the old woman who dated Harry Styles."
"She was the host of England's The X Factor where 1D got their break. But today she spends her time reading hate mail. So to help you, here's voodoo doodoo Caroline."
The X Factor returns to ITV1 on Saturday, with Flack due to appear at a launch event for the show on Thursday.
A spokeswoman for One Direction said the magazine was not an official band magazine.
Topix Media had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.
Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project which highlighted the article on Twitter, said: "It is hugely irresponsible to print things like this in a magazine which is aimed at young women who are extremely vulnerable to the influence of the media.
"It reinforces hugely damaging gender stereotypes and the idea that it is socially acceptable for women to be judged purely on the basis of their looks, that it is absolutely disgusting if you dare to have a wrinkle.
"It also reinforces the idea that women should prioritise men and boys above all else and particularly their relationships with each other and their own self-esteem."
She added: "It also utterly ignores Harry Styles' participation in the relationship. On a wider level this is already a huge problem in the treatment of high-profile relationships, constantly focusing the blame on the woman and abusing people on social media."
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