BY Lux Alptraum
August 1, 2008
1,564 views
5 Comments

A few days ago, while wearing my other hat (the one that reads “Fleshbot Associate Editor” in big neon letters), I came across a photo set on Flynet, a photo agency that trades in pictures of celebrities. “Jess Origliasso posing topless,” the headline cried.

I had no idea who Ms. Origliasso was, but since I needed something to post, I grabbed the photos and posted them on Fleshbot. Everyone likes boobs, right? And the photos — four sepia-toned webcam snaps, two clothed, one topless shoulder shot, and one topless boob shot with an obscured face — showed off some cute boobs; even if I was only vaguely aware of who the owner was. (Before putting them online, I googled and found out that Jess Origliasso was one half of the Australian twin pop duo, The Veronicas. I do my research, man!)

A few days passed by, and the photos generated only marginal interest. But then Thursday came — Friday in Australia — and suddenly it seemed that all hell had broken loose. Tons of Australian papers were covering the story, Aussie teenager were threatening to post topless shots online in solidarity with Ms. Origliasso, and, well, you get the idea.

But why? And for what? The leaked photos were nothing more than harmless webcam snaps — the kind that anyone with a webcam (and who doesn’t have a webcam, nowadays?) has taken, over and over again. What’s more, Origliasso even showed good judgment by not including her full face in the shot, in case, you know, it got leaked (woops!). So what’s the big deal?

Are we unable to handle the fact that people — yes, even pop idols — might use budding technology to explore their budding sexuality? Are we really shocked by the thought of the young and famous having — gasp! — sex lives of their own?

Oh wait, yeah. We are. My bad!