A Playboy model who posted a “body-shaming” photo of a naked elderly woman in a gym’s changing room has been charged with invasion of privacy.
Dani Mathers, the 2015 Playboy Playmate of the Year, took the photo in an LA gym and posted it to Snapchat with the caption: “If I can’t unsee this then you can’t either.”
But the image was met with anger when posted three months ago and Ms Mathers was suspended from her job at an LA radio station.
She now faces up to six months in jail and a $1,000 (£800) fine for invasion of privacy. She is scheduled to appear in court on November 28.
Soon after her post, Ms Mathers claimed the photo was made public “accidentally” and that she had meant to send it privately to a friend.
"It was absolutely wrong and not what I meant to do. I chose to do what I do for a living because I love the female body and I know body-shaming is wrong," she said in a Snapchat video after removing the post.
"The photo was taken as part of a personal conversation with a girlfriend and because I am new to Snapchat I didn't realise I had posted it, and that was a huge mistake.
"I know I have upset a lot of people out there but please believe me this is not the type of person that I am. I have never done this before and I will never do this again."
The gym in which the photo was taken, LA Fitness, has banned Ms Mathers from its entire chain for life.
Tom Mesereau, Ms Mathers’ attorney, told the Guardian on Friday that she never intended to violate privacy law.
He said: “I am very disappointed that Dani Mathers was charged with any violation. She never tried to invade anyone’s privacy and never tried to break any law.”
