Australian musician Iggy Azalea has deleted all of her social media accounts after nude photos of herself leaked onto the internet.
The photos, which allegedly originated from unused photos from a 2016 photoshoot with GQ and were taken by photographer Nino Muñoz, originated online, leaving Azalea seemingly no choice but to shut down her Twitter and Instagram accounts, saying she was taking a break from social media in response to comments made after the photos leaked.
The photoshoot took place in 2016; the same year Iggy performed her song Team on the Ellen DeGeneres Show:Before she deleted her account, however, Azalea addressed the leak and the circumstances behind it, saying she felt "violated" by how events had unfolded that day.
"A lot of high profile women have shot covers for GQ with a strategically placed hand, etc., covering their breasts etc," Azalea began on social media.
"I always felt they were very beautiful covers, so I jumped at the opportunity. I hadn't seen other women's covers leak so I felt comfortable (on a closed set) to model for such a reputable magazine knowing only the images with my hands covering [my breasts] would be considered for print."
With an understanding that GQ did not post topless photos, Azalea had no idea that the outtakes from the photoshoot would be kept, let alone circulated on the internet. "There was no reason for anyone to have kept the outtakes from the shoot. I'm surprised and angry that they were not immediately deleted after the final images were selected," she said.
"Today I am a ball of negative emotions. I feel blindsided, embarrassed, violated, angry, sad, and a million other things. Not solely because I did not consent to this – but also because of the vile way people have reacted."
Iggy Azalea also reacted angrily to comments made after the photos leaked, saying they made her feel sick.
"The outright wicked things people say is overwhelming and makes me feel like throwing up. I fully intend to find out where the leak originated from and pressing criminal charges in regards to this. It’s important to me that someone actually be held accountable for their actions and the way it impacts my life."
Meanwhile, photographer Nino Muñoz took to Instagram himself to condemn the release of the photos. "My heart goes out to anyone this situation has affected. I’m utterly outraged and will not rest until justice is served," in his Instagram caption, and confirmed there was an investigation underway into what occurred to allow the leak to happen.
"I'm outraged and saddened to find out that images of mine were stolen and published without my permission. There is currently an investigation underway. Posting these stolen images is illegal and anyone who has done so will be prosecuted. I empathise with any discomfort that this situation has caused to anyone that is involved."
This is not the first time that Azalea has taken a break from social media - she took a similar hiatus from Twitter and Instagram after her publicized breakup with Nick Cannon back in 2015.
