UPDATED | Magazine distributors join ban on controversial fashion magazine cover

Updated with comment from Miller Distributors, distributors for Dazed & Confused.

Condom as cigar - Banks says contraceptives are must-have accessories.

The island's major news and magazine print distributors said a decision not to import the latest edition of bold pop culture magazine Dazed & Confused, over its in-your-face cover in which Harlem songstress Azealia Banks is pretend-smoking a condom, was a mistake.

A representative of Miller Distributors' newspaper and magazine distribution - which also distributes such adult titles such as Playboy and Perfect 10, and lad magazines like FHM and Nuts - confirmed that the company had refused to import the magazine's September edition due to its front cover.

The story garnered some traction on social networking sites, with many describing the decision as hypocritical, owing to the fact that the distributor appears to have no qualms in stocking other racy magazines.

A few hours after the story broke, a Miller representative replied to our request for comment via email, explaining that the situation had more to do with distribution rates rather than overt acts of censorship.

LISTEN: The Dazed and Confused editorial team discuss the controversial cover on the magazine's online radio programme.

"When we were approached by the publisher's distributor, we were told that various countries would not be handling this due to a 'sensitive' cover and ideally given the logistics and production costs, it was solicited that in case of any doubt of offence that issue would not be put on sale in such countries," the representative said.

"With hindsight we were mistaken and should have distributed this tiny circulation magazine as usual. We apologise for any inconvenience caused as it is company policy to encourage freedom of expression in all the printed matter we handle."

Miller Distributors retain their right as a commercial firm not to import the magazine, which it said has only a minor circulation of four copies in Malta.

Just been told our upcoming @azealiabanks cover has been banned from 7 countries so far. Thank God for the Internet, huh? — Dazed and Confused (@DazedMagazine) August 8, 2012

The issue has now been banned in Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai, Switzerland, India and potentially Thailand, a fact the publication relished in when it tweeted the following statement: "Just been told our upcoming @AZEALIABANKS cover has been banned from 7 countries so far. Thank God for the Internet, huh?"

The Banks cover - 'Azealia Banks Blows Up' - goes on to say that the rapper's rubber accessory is one of this season's "must-haves" as part of a safe-sex message to readers.

According to the Evening Standard, Dazed & Confused editor Rod Stanley said he knew the cover would make headlines. "Azealia liked it, and we thought it would be fun and suited her because she's a strong, provocative character. I knew this cover would be talked about, but didn't expect a confident, young woman posing with an inflated condom to cause this much fuss.

"It's funny that in a world where extreme images are so accessible, someone posing with something that is used for safe sex is what we get worked up about."

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The Prude Miller’s Tale nblo.gs/B1OIO — Jacques Rene Zammit (@jacqueszammit) August 16, 2012