Leaked topless photos and video of Lebanese Olympic skier Jackie Chamoun caused quite the snowball effect — triggering an Olympic investigation, an apology and a lot of backlash.
The behind-the-scenes video came from a photo shoot for a calendar three years ago. The photos used in the calendar were less revealing than the leaked footage, which Chamoun says she never saw and shouldn't have been shared. (Via YouTube / Beiruting.com)
After the video was leaked, the BBC put it best, writing, "All hell seemed to break loose."
Lebanon's caretaker minister of youth and sports reportedly asked the Olympic committee to investigate the incident to protect the country's reputation. (Via BBC)
Chamoun responded via Facebook saying: "I want to apologize to all of you, I know that Lebanon is a conservative country and this is not the image that reflects our culture. I fully understand if you want to criticise this."
REPORTER: "Do you now wish you never went to the mountains that day for the photo shoot?"
CHAMOUN: "No."
REPORTER: "You still would have done it?"
CHAMOUN: "I mean, I wish the making of didn't go out." (Via CNN)
And it didn't take long for social media to show an outpouring of support for Chamoun.
People posted photos of themselves stripped down in support of the athlete on a Facebook page called "I Am Not Naked," which has more than 15,000 likes.
And on Twitter, #StripForJackie had people posting their own creative ways of supporting Chamoun, even including this "top down" Volkswagen ad.
The Independent reports many are upset officials in Lebanon are spending time focusing on leaked video of an athlete when there are more important things to worry about such as terrorism and corruption.
Chamoun is set to compete in two slalom competitions Feb. 18 and 21.
