Speaking out (justifiably) angrily in this interview, Lawrence reminds us that the public too quickly and too often blames women for these violations and that by sitting idly by in silence she was afraid “by doing nothing, that made it seem OK for other women and girls to just let it happen to them, because it isn’t”. Her message is clear – our bodies are our own, and violating them, or enabling that violation by looking at the photos, is wrong – plain and simple.
Lawrence’s stance, along with Emma Watson’s recent speech at the UN, has shone a light on the way society both views and reacts to the issues of consent, privacy and sexuality raised by these violations. Today, we don’t just tolerate women taking a stand against these dominant narratives, we applaud and celebrate them.
Vanity Fair Cover November 2014
While many actresses have chosen to stay silent about previous nude photo leaks, Lawrence has taken a bold and incensed tone in her Vanity Fair interview, and let’s hope her actions in speaking out sets the tone for change in the way we respond to these invasions of privacy and the objectification of women.
Lawrence’s tough stance against both hackers and publishers comes off the back of threats made by lawyer Marty Singer – who has reportedly represented other celebrities involved in the same hack – to sue Google for $100 million for “failing to act expeditiously and responsibly to remove the images but in knowingly accommodating, facilitating, and perpetuating the unlawful conduct.”
Originally, Vanity Fair’s contributing editor Sam Kashner interviewed the Oscar-winning actress before her iCloud account was hacked on August 31st. Post-leak, Kashner approached the actress again to give her “a chance to have the last word” before the November edition was published. But J-Law isn’t apologising for anything, or to anyone. In the interview, she says “I started to write an apology, but I don’t have anything to say I’m sorry for.”
Now with Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Lawrence says at the time the photos were taken; “I was in a loving, healthy, great relationship for four years. It was long-distance, and either your boyfriend is going to look at porn or he’s going to look at you.” And she hasn’t just stopped at those directly involved in the hack, but also anyone who has even looked at the photos saying, “Anybody who looked at those pictures, you’re perpetuating a sexual offence.”
Disgusted is the only way to describe Jennifer Lawrence’s reaction:
“It is not a scandal. It is a sex crime. It is a sexual violation. It’s disgusting. The law needs to be changed, and we need to change. That’s why these Web sites are responsible. Just the fact that somebody can be sexually exploited and violated, and the first thought that crosses somebody’s mind is to make a profit from it. It’s so beyond me. I just can’t imagine being that detached from humanity. I can’t imagine being that thoughtless and careless and so empty inside.”
Jennifer Lawrence at The Screen Actor’s Guild Awards 2014
Numerous other celebrities were involved in the same leak – Kim Kardashian, Amber Heard, Kate Upton, Gabrielle Union and Victoria Justice to name a few – but while they have remained largely silent, Lawrence defended herself to Vanity Fair saying:
“Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this. It does not mean that it comes with the territory. It’s my body, and it should be my choice, and the fact that it is not my choice is absolutely disgusting. I can’t believe that we even live in that kind of world.”
In a recent campaign for Dior, Lawrence commented ‘A powerful woman is someone who exudes confidence and can be tough but fair and kind. And also knows how to get what she wants’. Lawrence was photographed for the campaign by Patrick Demarchelier, styled in various black pantsuits designed by Dior’s Raf Simon. (Dior has opened their first Australian Dior Perfume & Beauty Boutique in Westfield Bondi Junction, Sydney)
Jennifer Lawrence, we salute you!
