Weekly News 54

X-rated photos of Holly Willoughby 'stolen and threatened for use online' as she joins Millie Mackintosh on 'new list of stars targeted by hackers'

This article comes from the Daily Mail, written by Becky Freeth

The story follows after a recent burst of personal photos of female celebrities, including Emma Watson and Amanda Seyfried, being leaked online which has now spread to more local level celebrities as Holly Willoughby and Millie Mackintosh.

 

The hackers are said to of guessed the passwords to the stars social media accounts and used the access to their private messages to exploit the women online. 

This story particularly interested me, firstly as the only targets so far seem to be women, which immediately highlights the issue of exploitation and sexualisation of women, and secondly as it highlights the issue of privacy on the internet, and how personal details and information you thought to be safe within your social media environment, can easily be accessed and made public to the world. 

Holly Willoughby has since denied the existence of such photos, whereas the article later reveals the photos leaked of Watson were taken during a swimsuit fitting, which brings into question the safety and security of celebrities, and everyday people when their vulnerable moments can be exploited so shamelessly for profit or media attention. (Emma Watson has since taken legal action against the use of her images on the dark web)

Other targets are said to be more A-list stars, including the youngest of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, Kylie Jenner. The images used in the article are interesting, especially of Holly as despite her denying the photos exist, the photos used are provocative or exposing which could perhaps suggest that the Daily Mail is implying they believe Holly's denial to be false.