Actress Cate Blanchett and 40 others have come forward to support photographer, Bill Henson, after Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, hinted that possible criminal charges await Henson, whose latest exhibit was shut down due to images of naked underage girls. More than 20 pictures were confiscated, including one featuring a naked 13 year old girl and one of a naked, unconscious girl being carried by two other naked subjects. In a letter signed by Blanchett (mother of three), the Prime Minister is urged to “rethink his public comments” and to not go forward with any formal charges. The Daily Telegraph reports:
The potential prosecution of one of our most respected artists…does untold damage to our culture reputation,” the letter said. “We suggest that the…criminalisation of laying charges against Mr Henson, his gallery and the parents of the young people depicted in his work would be far more traumatic for the young people concerned than anything Mr. Henson has done.”
Maybe I’m just old fashioned, but I can’t shake the feeling that if I was a 13 year old girl, an old guy asking me to pretend I just took some roofies so he can take some pictures of me naked and defenseless would be pretty traumatic. Also if I was a 13 year old girl, Joe Jonas would totally be my favorite. Back off bitches!
Photos: Splash
