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Emma Watson is taking legal action after photos of her in a private moment were stolen by hackers and published online.
The Beauty And The Beast star’s publicist confirmed in a statement that pictures taken of Emma during a dress fitting two years ago were recently stolen and posted on the ‘dark web’, a part of the internet where users can browse anonymously and criminal activities take place.
“Photos from a clothes fitting Emma had with a stylist a couple of years ago have been stolen,” the statement said. “They are not nude photographs. Lawyers have been instructed and we are not commenting further.”
The 26-year-old UN Women Goodwill Ambassador has previously revealed that she’s been threatened by hackers claiming to possess nude photos of her.
“I knew it was a hoax, I knew the pictures didn’t exist,” she said. “The minute I stepped up and talked about women’s rights I was immediately threatened, within less than 12 hours I was receiving threats.”
The photo hacking comes days ahead of the worldwide release of Beauty And The Beast, a live-action remake of the Disney film in which she plays Belle. The timing is also soon after she was criticised by some for posing almost topless for Vanity Fair, saying the move was at odds with being a feminist.
“Feminism is about giving women choice,” she hit back. “Feminism is not a stick with which to beat other women with. It’s about freedom, it’s about liberation, it’s about equality. I really don’t know what my tits have to do with it. It’s very confusing.”
