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Mischa Barton Takes Legal Action Over Revenge Porn Allegedly Peddled By Ex

Mischa Barton Takes Legal Action Over Revenge Porn Allegedly Peddled By Ex
WOODLAND HILLS, CA - MARCH 15: Actress Mischa Barton and her Attorney Lisa Bloom hold news conference on March 15, 2017 in Woodland Hills, California. Barton and her attorney held the conference to address the legal action they are taking against a former boyfriend and a sex tape that allegedly features the actress. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)
Paul Archuleta via Getty Images
WOODLAND HILLS, CA - MARCH 15: Actress Mischa Barton and her Attorney Lisa Bloom hold news conference on March 15, 2017 in Woodland Hills, California. Barton and her attorney held the conference to address the legal action they are taking against a former boyfriend and a sex tape that allegedly features the actress. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/Getty Images)

Mischa Barton is taking legal action over nude images allegedly taken without her permission within the last year by an ex-partner who had offered them to the highest bidder.

The “O.C.” actress’ announcement came Wednesday at a press conference alongside her lawyer. Barton suggested the “revenge porn,” a term that refers to intimate content distributed without permission, was made by a man she dated in 2016.

“This is a painful situation, and my absolute worst fear was realized when I learned that someone I thought I loved and trusted was filming my most intimate and private moments without my consent, with hidden cameras,” she said.

“I came forward to fight this not only for myself, but for all the women out there. I want to protect them from the pain and humiliation that I have had to go through,” she continued. “No woman should have to go through this.”

The actress has obtained a court order preventing the material from being distributed. E! News states a report was also filed with the Los Angeles Police Department.

“Revenge porn is a very common crime that happens to a lot of people. It happens to people who are not celebrities,” said Barton’s lawyer, Lisa Bloom. “It’s scary, even for a celebrity, to stand up like this, but it’s important for girls and women to stand up for our rights.”

Thirty-five states and Washington, D.C., have enacted laws against revenge porn, according to a nonprofit dedicated to fighting online abuse. In California, it’s classified as a misdemeanor.

The problem, usually perpetrated by angry ex-boyfriends or ex-husbands, has recently been brought into a national spotlight. In early 2015, a California man was sentenced to seven years for posting stolen and submitted nude photos of women online; not long after, another California man was sentenced for hosting a revenge porn website and charging women hundreds of dollars for their likenesses to be removed.

Later in 2015, Google announced it would assist victims of revenge porn by removing the offending images from search results.

Barton’s press conference was hosted the same day reports that personal photos of actresses Emma Watson and Amanda Seyfried had been leaked online. Both women have reportedly taken legal action, as well.

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