Jennifer Lawrence Calls Nude Photo Hack "A Sex Crime"
She speaks out for the first time
Jennifer Lawrence has spoken out for the first time about the nude photos of her that were leaked via a large scale hack in August.
In a newly published interview with Vanity Fair, Jennifer understandably had some caustic word for the hackers and those sharing the images calling the acts a "sex crime" and a "sexual violation."
The Hunger Games actress was one of 100 celebrities, athletes and public targeted in the online cloud hack. The anonymous perpetrators posted scores of photos on image sharing site 4chan.
"I was just so afraid. I didn’t know how this would affect my career," 24-year-old Jen told Vanity Fair.
"Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this. It does not mean that it comes with the territory.
“It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can’t believe that we even live in that kind of world."
Although Jennifer’s representatives released a statement condemning the security breach, she says she didn’t immediately comment because "every single thing that I tried to write made me cry or get angry.”
She added: "I started to write an apology, but I don’t have anything to say I’m sorry for. I was in a loving, healthy, great relationship for four years. It was long distance, and either your boyfriend is going to look at porn or he’s going to look at you."
Other stars that appeared on the list included Ariana Grande, Cara Delavigne, Mary E Winstead, Selena Gomez, Kate Upton, Kirsten Dunst and Kaley Cuoco.
Weeks later in September a second wave of celebrities appeared, including photos apparently showing Kim Kardashian and Rihanna in various states of undress.
Both Apple and The FBI have investigated the widespread invasion of private accounts alleged to be connected to iCloud online storage.
Although many people have referred to the hacks as a ‘scandal’, Jennifer insists it’s much more serious than that.
"It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime," she said. "It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change. That’s why these websites are responsible.
"Just the fact that somebody can be sexually exploited and violated, and the first thought that crosses somebody’s mind is to make a profit from it. It’s so beyond me. I just can’t imagine being that detached from humanity. I can’t imagine being that thoughtless and careless and so empty inside."
Adding that everyone who looked at the images were "perpetuating a sexual offence,” Jennifer continued: "You should cower with shame.
“Even people who I know and love say, 'Oh, yeah, I looked at the pictures.' I don’t want to get mad, but at the same time I’m thinking, I didn’t tell you that you could look at my naked body."
Jennifer added that one of her lowest ebbs was having to phone her father to tell him about the nude photos.
“When I have to make that phone call to my dad and tell him what’s happened ... I don’t care how much money I get for The Hunger Games, I promise you, anybody given the choice of that kind of money or having to make a phone call to tell your dad that something like that has happened, it’s not worth it.
"Fortunately, he was playing golf, so he was in a good mood," she joked.
The full interview appears in this month’s edition of Vanity Fair in the US. It appears online at www.vanityfair.com from tomorrow (8th August).
Jennifer Lawrence’s new movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 hits cinemas in the UK on Thursday 20th November.