LOS ANGELES _ Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer filed criminal charges Friday against a former Playboy playmate, alleging she secretly photographed a 70-year-old woman in the nude while she was in the shower area of a Los Angeles fitness center.
Prosecutors charged Dani Mathers, 29, with one misdemeanor count of invasion of privacy. Mathers allegedly posted an image of the woman on her Snapchat social media account in early July.
"Body-shaming is humiliating, with often painful, long-term consequences," 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. 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."
Mathers apologized for taking a photo of the woman in a locker room shower at an LA Fitness exercise center and posting it online with disparaging comments about the woman's body.
"That was absolutely wrong and not what I meant to do," she said. "I know that body-shaming is wrong. That is not the type of person I am."
She said the photo was meant to be sent as a private message, but was posted publicly.
Los Angeles police began an investigation in July after receiving a report of "illegal distribution" of the image, LA Fitness officials reported the posting to police as well, officials said.
Mathers sparked a public backlash after she shared the photo of the naked woman in the gym's locker room with the caption: "If I can't unsee this then you can't either."
Critics accused Mathers of body-shaming the woman. Others said her actions were illegal.
LA Fitness responded to Mathers' action by permanently revoking her membership at all of its health clubs.
