Playboy Model Charged With Invasion Of Privacy For Body-Shaming Snap

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Los Angeles prosecutors Friday charged a Playboy model who took a photo of a naked woman in a gym locker room and posted it to social media with insulting comments about the woman's body.

The city attorney's office said Friday that Dani Mathers faces a misdemeanor count of invasion of privacy. She is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 28 and could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine if convicted.

"Body-shaming is humiliating, with often painful, long-term consequences," City Attorney Mike Feuer said in a statement. "It mocks and stigmatizes its victims, tearing down self-respect and perpetuating the harmful idea that our unique physical appearances should be compared to air-brushed notions of 'perfect.'"

"What really matters is our character and humanity," he said. "While body-shaming, in itself, is not a crime, there are circumstances in which invading one's privacy to accomplish it can be. And we shouldn't tolerate that."

The 29-year-old faced widespread criticism after she shared the photo on Snapchat in July with the caption: "If I can't unsee this then you can't either." She later apologized and deleted her social media accounts.

L.A. Fitness reported the posting to police and revoked Mathers' membership.

Mather's attorney, Tom Meseareau, released this statement:

"I'm very disappointed that Dani Mathers was charged with any violation. She never tried to invade anyone's privacy and never tried to break any law."