Sometimes, a news story sets the world on fire, and this one is the latest: Model Cara Delevingne and rumored girlfriend Ashley Benson were spotted lugging a sex bench in Los Angeles. The Daily Mail was possessed to go all caps regarding the "SEX BENCH." The Cut wondered if you should buy one. And Jezebel sent their congratulations. Still, scores of people were probably left wondering: What is a sex bench? And why would anyone want one? And if I had one, what would I do with it?
The box that Delevingne and Benson were seen transporting into what theDaily Mail maintains is their Southern California crib indicates the model is the [WARNING: Clicking on this Amazon link will take you to a webpage with adult toys on it) Master Series Obedience Extreme Sex Bench with Restraint Straps. Currently, it has a 3.3-star rating on Amazon, and 10 reviews. The product description mentions a host of features, including but not limited to: a "sturdy" steel frame that can hold up to 400 pounds, "optional straps" should one want to engage in "bondage play," and a "U-shaped head rest [that] allows you to hear your partner's moans and gasps." It also notes that the device is "perfect for spanking."
The reviews range from four stars--"it's super comfy"--to one star--"I couldn't put it completely together." The biggest customer issue seemed to involve height; after all, one's spanking bench must be optimally proportioned for both spanker and spankee. One customer had a breaking problem during repeated usage: "That's when she broke the headrest where it attaches to the two tubes about the 2nd or 3rd time we used the bench." And one added, simply: "Works as advertised. We enjoy it a lot."
For a piece of sex furniture, a price tag of $384.46 seems reasonable. When I visited the Amazon page, only five were left in stock.
At 26, Delevingne is a model and actress whose visage has appeared in numerous fashion campaigns, Prada, Burberry, and Chanel among them. The daughter of a British property developer, she grew up in London. Benson, 29, was one of the stars of "Pretty Little Liars" and is from Southern California. The press have enjoyed following their sometimes public relationship.
According to the Daily Mail, the women were spotted with their sex bench in West Hollywood. Curious to find out where they might have purchased it, if they'd done so locally, I called The Pleasure Chest, a popular adult store in West Hollywood. The employee who answered the phone informed me that they didn't have that particular sex bench.