Nude Photographs and 'consent'
A few weeks ago a trove of nude celebrity photos were leaked on Reddit by an anonymous hacker, accessing photos from the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez, Kaley Cuoco and Ariana Grande. Accusations of this being illegal activity are growingly widespread. But I’m here to make a case for some very important people’s rights, rights that should lie in the very foundation of our society: the right to celebrity nude photos.
It’s clear to every logical person that if you upload pictures onto iCloud, that automatically warrants the leaking of personal pictures. After all, the terms and conditions clearly state that any data entered onto the server is automatically emailed to their entire consumer base. Anything you enter from the sanctity of your own home should of course be subject to public scrutiny and ridicule. That’s pretty much why you have your own personal devices and passwords-so that people can break into your accounts.It's not like passwords are actually meant to protect anything. The fact that these celebrities chose to take the pictures privately instead of sharing them with the public world clearly means they consented to having them shared amongst the masses. If they wanted it to be private, they would have printed it out and mailed it to their partners- obviously the proper way.
Secondly, it is extremely important to consider the rights of the previously underprivileged groups-the general public. For too long we have been deprived of the wonderful nakedness of our favorite celebrities. For too long we have been unfairly forced to actually obtain permission for other people’s pictures we intend to access. For too long we have been victimized. If this human right to naked pictures comes at the expense of the basic dignity and well being of other individuals, and the fundamental foundations of a civilized society, who cares? Naked pictures clearly triumph all.
But I’m sure even after reading this many of you are still buying into the ludicrous notions of ‘privacy’ and ‘personal belongings’. If you’re still not convinced, it’s important to remember that the matter at hand deals with celebrities and not actual human beings. Clearly, Jennifer Lawrence isn't a living, breathing individual. The widespread adoration and attention that we choose to give them obviously entitles us to anything and everything we want from them. The job of a celebrity is synonymous with anything we want them to be.
We as a society have taken significant strides in terms of our respect for female rights and equality. We have continued to fight against the culture of victim blaming; we have fought for the right of bodily autonomy and self expression. These events are but an extension of our feminist beliefs; enabling celebrities to express themselves in multiple ways. Er-with or without their permission. Perhaps, in the future, we can advance even further. Perhaps we will soon see the day where the actions of every female human of notice can be monitored and scrutinized by the general public.
If you’re interested, the pictures can be viewed here. Have fun!
By Sarika Mahbubani
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this opinion article are not a reflection of the Renaissance Times' or the author's viewpoints. It may or may not contain traces of misogyny, objectification and outright ignorance.
