Body Shaming Playboy Model Charged Over Pensioner Body Shaming On Social Media

Playboy Model Dani Mathers has been charged by the authorities in Los Angeles with invasion of privacy for taking a photo of an elderly woman changing in a gym locker room and then posting it to social media.

The snap that Mather’s has been charged for taking

The photo, posted to Snapchat included the following derogatory comment about the 70-year-old woman’s body:

“If I can’t unsee this then you can’t either.”

LA prosecutors have been lauded for bringing the charges against Mathers, 29, using legislation normally reserved for peeping toms and people who take sexually suggestive pictures with hidden cameras.

According to Mather’s attorney:

“I’m disappointed that she was charged with any type of violation. She never intentionally violated anyone’s privacy and never tried to break the law at any time.”

Mathers, the 2015 Playboy Playmate of the year claimed she had not meant to make the photo public, but the Los Angeles Police Department found the elderly victim, who consented to charges being brought up against the 29-year-old ‘bunny,’ and now if convicted, Mathers could face up to 6 months in jail and a million dollar fine.

After a public outcry, and online vilification for body shaming her victim, Dani Mathers later apologised for having uploaded the photograph, saying

“That was absolutely wrong and not what I meant to do. I know that body-shaming is wrong. That is not the type of person I am.”

Of course, the apology, came too little too late for Mathers, and only after she was shamed herself into making it, trying to salvage what little was left of her reputation, and one must imagine, her dignity.

I will leave the final words of this article today, to prosecuting LA attorney, Mike Feuer as quoted in the LA Times:

“Body-shaming is humiliating, with often painful, long-term consequences,” he said. “It mocks and stigmatizes its victims, tearing down self-respect and perpetuating the harmful idea that our unique physical appearances should be compared to air-brushed notions of ‘perfect.’ What matters is our character and humanity. While body-shaming is not a crime, there are circumstances in which invading one’s privacy to accomplish it can be. And we shouldn’t tolerate that.”

Well, quite.