Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Playboy Model Charged For Body-Shaming Picture Of Naked 70-Year-Old Woman At Gym
Dani Mathers, the Playboy playmate who was rightfully criticized after she posted a rude picture body-shaming a naked 70-year-old woman at an LA Fitness gym, has officially been charged with invasion of privacy by the Los Angeles City Attorney, reports TMZ. Mather posted the above images to her public Snapchat story back in July, including the caption "If I can't unsee this then you can't either."
Because photographing another person in the nude without their consent definitely illegal under the 2004 Video Voyeurism act, LAPD launched an investigation into the incident after the story was widely publicized. Police managed to locate the woman in the photograph by September, and she emphasized at the time that she was interested in pressing formal charges against Mathers.
Now, we learn that the L.A. City Attorney's office agrees that charges are a good idea. The misdemeanor invasion of privacy count Mathers has been charged with carries a maximum sentence of six-months in jail, and a $1,000 fine, according to The Wrap.
"Body-shaming is humiliating, with often painful, long-term consequences," said L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer, in a statement. “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 really matters is our character and humanity. While body-shaming, in itself, is not a crime, there are circumstances in which invading one's privacy to accomplish it can be. And we shouldn’t tolerate that."
Support for LAist comes from
Mathers offered an apology for taking the picture back in July, saying in a video response that she was new to Snapchat and hadn't intended to post the picture to her public story:
Of course, as fellow LAist writer Juliet Bennett Rylah pointed out way back in July, people weren't mad at Mathers for posting the picture publicly instead of privately, but rather that she took the picture in the first place. Even if the photo was posted privately, it wouldn't do anything to diminish its outright meanness.
Anyway, since the photo-sharing incident happened, Mathers has been banned from all LA Fitness locations. She also lost her job with 95.5 KLOS FM, where she was a regular contributor to The Heidi and Frank Show.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The critical findings are part of long-awaited after-action report was released Thursday. It contains recommendations for increasing emergency staffing and updating old systems. -
Diving has changed, mountain biking has been added. Here's where to watch the Olympics in person in 2028. -
'A Great Day in the Stoke' is a free, daylong event in Orange County billed as 'the largest gathering of Black surfers in history.' The fourth annual festival is set for Saturday in Huntington Beach. -
Kimmel returned less than a week after ABC suspended his show over comments he made about the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. -
Southern California might see some light rain tonight into Wednesday morning. After that, cooler weather is on the way, but expect the humidity to remain. -
A gate tax at Disney? It's a possibility.
Best of LAist