Playboy to cut ties with Portugal edition over pics of Jesus with nude models

New York, July 10 (ANI): Playboy is all set to cut relations with their Portuguese subsidiary over a cover picture featuring a topless, tattooed model being held by Jesus Christ.

Inside, it includes more spreads of Jesus surrounded by nude women.

The pictures appeared in the July edition of Playboy in Portugal.

The photos were supposedly a tribute to "The Gospel According to Jesus Christ," a novel written by Jose Saramago about Christ's life.

"We did not see or approve the cover and pictorial in the July issue of Playboy Portugal," the New York Daily News quoted Theresa Hennessy, vice president of public relations at Playboy, as telling the Daily Mail.

"It is a shocking breach of our standards and we would have not allowed it to be published if we had seen it in advance," Hennessy added.

Playboy intends to cut relations with Frestacom-Lisbon Media Publishing, the Portuguese subsidiary responsible for that shoot.

"We are in the process of terminating our agreement with the Portuguese publisher," said Hennessey. (ANI)