Playboy model Dani Mathers took a photo of a naked woman in a gym locker this summer and posted it on Snapchat. Followers were quick to point that she had no right to body shame that woman, especially since she was at a gym trying to lead a healthier lifestyle. Now, the Los Angeles Police Department has located the woman she photographed and Mathers might face charges.
“We did receive the case from the LAPD, it’s currently under review from our office. We will be making a final decision soon, but there’s no timetable at this point,” Office of Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer told ABC News.
Back in July, Mathers took the photo of a nude woman at an LA Fitness in Los Angeles and posted it on Snapchat saying, “If I can’t unsee this then you can’t either.” The model apologized for her comment, but the LA Police Department opened an investigation after receiving a report of “illegal distribution.”
Social media is a great form of communication, but it also puts people’s safety at risk. There are many that hide behind their phone or computer to cyberbully or make rude remarks like in this case.
But what can you do?
Many people feel that Mathers got busted because she’s a celebrity, but there are ways to report abuse on social media. The first thing you need to do is capture a screenshot or video recording of the abuse. If you are in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to call the police and file a report. The sites below do not tolerate cyberbullying or any type of abuse and you can report it directly on their sites:
There are also organizations like StopBullying.Gov that can guide you if you need help reporting abuse. Every state has different laws for cyberbullying and in many states if found guilty, abusers could face jail time. LA Fitness immediately ended Mathers’ membership and she might face jail time if the woman pictured decides to press charges now that she’s been identified.