In a follow up to a story we ran earlier this summer, former Playboy playmate Dani Mathers, who viciously body shamed a woman over social media at a Los Angeles-area gym, has been charged with invasion of privacy. It’s a unique way to go about charging Mathers as this type of misdemeanor is often used for prosecuting peeping toms and other sexually deviant behavior.
In early July, Mathers posted a photo to snapchat of a woman behind her at the gym, mocking the woman’s appearance. Turns out she was 70 years old and authorities didn’t take the action lightly.
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer told the Los Angeles Times that he really wanted to send a message.
“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 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.”
Public prosecutors and defenders couldn’t recall a time when the invasion of privacy charge had been used in this manner but social media has changed everything. Mathers posted the photo at an LA Fitness gym. The gym then reported the crime to police. She was subsequently suspended from her job at a local radio station.
