Playboy Model Charged Over Body-Shaming Gym Photo

(CBSNews) LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles prosecutors have charged a Playboy model who took a photo of a naked woman in a gym locker room and posted it to social media with insulting comments about the woman’s body.

The city attorney’s office said Friday that Dani Mathers faces a misdemeanor count of invasion of privacy. She is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 28. It wasn’t immediately known if Mathers has an attorney.

The 29-year-old faced widespread criticism after she shared the photo on Snapchat in July with the caption: “If I can’t unsee this then you can’t either.” She later apologized and deleted her social media accounts.

The gym reported the posting to police and revoked Mathers’ membership.

City News Service says Mathers could face up to six months in jail and a fine.

“Body-shaming is humiliating, with often painful, long-term consequences,” City Attorney Mike Feuer said 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,” he said. “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.”