Page 22 - AVN Intimate Spring 2014

FEATURE
H Ho ow wa ar rd d S St te er rn n
’ ’
s s S Se ex xy y 6 60 0t th h
Shock jock Howard Stern’s radio show has long provided a mainstream spotlight for
adult products and personalities. So when it came time to celebrate Stern’s 60th birth-
day, sex toy manufacturers were ready to shower the radio celeb and his friends with
sensual and erotic items.
On Jan. 31, a mélange of musicians, artists and other guests gathered at the
Hammerstein Ballroom to wish Stern a sexy 60th. Jimmy Kimmel hosted, and the guest
list included Jon Bon Jovi, Larry King, David Letterman, Robert Downey Jr., the Black
Keys, Lena Dunham, Heidi Klum, Whoopi Goldberg, Adam Levine and Steven Tyler, to
name a few of the A-list glitterati and loyal listeners lucky enough to score seats.
Celeb guests received gift bags filled with trend-setting items in the pleasure product
industry. The crew at FilthyDirty.com online boutique fashioned the gift bags, which
were loaded with toys and body care products.
Gift bags for Stern’s team included handpicked items from some of Filthy Dirty’s
favorite brands, including Kama Sutra, OhMiBod, Sensuva and Tenga (pictured). In addi-
tion to the gift bags for Stern and his co-stars, Sportsheets provided a gift box for host
Jimmy Kimmel.
Among the gifts was lubricant made by Intimate Organics, an innovator in the field
since 2008 with products that are vegan, paraben- and DEA-free, and which also contain
USDA board certified organic extracts that are never tested on animals.
“We at Filthy Dirty love the Intimate Organics brand, which is why we carry the entire
line,” said Rebecca McClain, marketing director.
Sportsheets was an enthusiastic participant in outfitting the
goodie bags. “Sportsheets packed up a special gift for Howard and
Beth with our Under The Bed Restraint Kit, Door Jam Sex Sling,
Sportsheet, G-Spot Link and two of our leather paddles,” said Tom
Stewart, founder and CEO of Sportsheets.
“We were very excited that the wonderful people over at Filthy
Dirty invited us to be a part of this monumental birthday bash and
that we could offer quality products to Howard and his team mem-
bers,” Stewart said, adding that FilthyDirty.com founder and CEO
Victoria Gutwein told him, “I believe that this group of people are
in tune with trends and quality items—they will appreciate what’s
been selected for them.”
pleasure products, she was one of the most visi-
ble celebrities to do so.
California Exotic Novelties has also worked
with several mainstream celebrities in recent
years—Nick Hawk, star of Showtime’s Gigolos;
Phil Varone, former drummer from Skid Row; and
most recently Coco, wife of rapper-turned-actor
Ice T and star of reality TV show Ice Loves Coco—
to create collections to match their celebrity
images.
“TMZ leaked the story of Coco’s new collection
because they know the public loves these kinds
of stories,” Colvin said. “It’s beneficial to the
industry from a public relations perspective,
because celebrities can use their influence to
inspire people to take control of their sexuality.
That is the whole message behind Coco’s new
Coco Licious Collection of toys. The Coco Licious
Collection is all about Coco helping her girl-
friends explore the amazing world of pleasure
toys. She is a positive role model for women and
couples, and it’s going to be exciting to see what
her celebrity influence will have, not only on her
collection, but on the perception of toys to the
mainstream public.”
Tibbals echoed those sentiments, noting that
celebrities are almost like lightning rods dictat-
ing what’s acceptable in society.
“Thus, it’s almost as if celebrity interest in
and/or openness about sex toys gives us tacit
permission to like them,” she said. “In other
words: if Beyoncé can shop for vibrators, then so
can the rest of us.” ||
22 INTIMATE SUPPLEMENT | SPRING 2014