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Irish Daily Star Prints Kate Middleton Topless Photos; Owner ‘Dismayed’

by Samantha Randazzo | 10:40 am, September 16th, 2012

The scandal is far from over! It all started Friday when French magazine Closure published photos of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless at a private house in Provence, and things got infinitely worse yesterday when the Irish Daily Star ran the photos, Italian rag Chi announced plans to do the same, and the Palace took legal action. Now things have gotten even messier, as one of the Daily Star‘s controllers is saying the decision to print the photos was made without his knowledge and that he will pull the plug on the magazine because of it.

Media baron Richard Desmond is the chairman of Northern & Shell, one of the companies that owns the Daily Star, and he plans to completely end his company’s support of the paper because of his personal values. A source close to him told Daily Mail the following:

“When he found out what had been printed he was absolutely astonished. Immediate steps were taken to establish  who had made the decision, which all the company absolutely disagrees with. Northern & Shell will now seek to have no further involvement with the joint venture that produces the newspaper. … The decision to terminate the contract stems from a  personal belief about what is right and wrong, it’s that simple.”

It is unclear exactly what would happen to the paper should Desmond decide to cut Northern & Shell’s ties with it. So far, Independent News & Media, the paper’s other backer, has not said whether it will end its involvement, and insiders speculate that it will continue its support of the publication. This statement was made on Desmond’s behalf:

“We abhor the decision of the Irish Daily Star to publish these intrusive pictures, which we believe to  be a grotesque invasion of their privacy. Northern & Shell is profoundly dismayed at the decision, which would never have been made by any of the newspapers or magazines under our editorial control.”

We absolutely agree that what the Daily Star did was wrong, and we’re glad someone is standing up for what’s right. The edition of Chi set to contain the semi-nudes in a 26-page spread (which is tastelessly and inaccurately headlined “The Queen Is Nude”) will hit newsstands tomorrow.

UPDATE: According to Reuters, Independent News & Media Chief Executive Joe Webb issued an apology for the photos in the Sunday Independent, saying “We are launching an internal inquiry to ensure there will never be a repeat of this breach of decency.” He hopes to prevent the closure of the Daily Star.

[Daily Mail]



  • http://www.facebook.com/jespurp jessica elizalde

    so what. she was on vacation with her man. that is how we were born, topless. is it that big of a deal… apparently. she looks well endowned may i add.

  • Anonymous

    Those photo’s were taken by, very sneaky underhanded stealth. Only the paparazzi would sink to that level, which is even beneath the gutter.

    They chased Diana to her death. They set Sarah Ferguson up, and then exploited her. They also exploited Prince Harry.

    We were hoping, the Royal Family could have some peace. We enjoyed William and Kate’s lovely wedding. Our Queen is a remarkable person. Her Silver Jubilee was beautifully done.

    However, we can always count on the paparazzi, to behave like the scum of the earth. William and Kate are a very nice young couple, who don’t deserve this, what-so-ever.

  • http://www.facebook.com/paul.c.dickie Paul C. Dickie

    Get real. No “very sneaky underhanded stealth” was needed to take those photographs – just a long lens, a vantage point overlooking the château, patience and luck. It would not have been difficult to prevent the photos being taken, either by arranging accommodation that could not be overlooked or by some sort of screening.

    The law in the UK (and in Europe) is, mercifully, not the same as it is in Thailand, where one can be gaoled for the least derogatory comment about their monarch.

    The best way to deal with this is not to make a fuss about it but to regard it as a warning to improve security – if a photographer with a long lens could get a clear shot, so could a sniper!

  • http://www.facebook.com/paul.c.dickie Paul C. Dickie

    I believe the pixelation may have enhanced them a little but, yes, she is a most comely lady.

  • nastykate

    Flat chest with black nipples. it proves British women are ugly?

  • Anonymous

    Well, I guess I am no lady. If someone did that to me, and I caught them. They would pick their goddamn teeth up off the floor, never mind a lawsuit. To me, the paparazzi are disgusting vermin, and should be sprayed with, a louse flea spray bomb, or cockroach spray.

  • Anonymous

    Pretty Lady with average boobs, what’s news other than illegal actions by a money
    hungry photographer. Few months in jail for a few of these and the word will spread.

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