Private Photos of Emma Watson and Amanda Seyfried Leak: 7 Important Lessons for All of Us

Over the past day, nude, risqué, and other private photos of several celebrities leaked online, the work of an as-of-yet unknown party or parties who obtained and released the images without permission of the subjects. While, through a spokeswoman, Emma Watson has disputed the authenticity of any nude images within the leak (claiming that any nude photos within the trove that are allegedly of her are a “hoax”), she has confirmed that genuine private photos of her have been posted online without her permission. Likewise, Amanda Seyfried’s attorneys have already demanded that at least one website remove the images, some of which, Seyfried has acknowledged, contain explicit material.

Any unauthorized release of private photographs – especially of people undressed or engaged in intimate activities – is a serious crime and violation of privacy; I sympathize with the victims – and they are victims – and I sincerely hope that the perpetrators are identified, apprehended, and punished. Society often forgets that celebrities are people who suffer emotional pain no differently than anyone else.

There are, however, several important lessons that we can all learn from this episode. To learn about them, please see my article in Inc., Private Photos Of Emma Watson and Amanda Seyfried Leak: 7 Important Lessons for All of Us.