Let's Talk About How Creepy The Sydney Sweeney Bikini Pics Are

Note: This post is an Op-Ed and shares the author's personal views.

There's an element of the Sydney Sweeney discourse that I think is being severely undiscussed.

In case you missed it, images of Sydney in a bikini outside her house went viral this weekend as pathetic little manbabies complained about her looking slightly different to how she usually does on the red carpet.

Sydney herself compiled a video of these comments on her appearance, shutting them down with a series of pictures of her getting super buff for an upcoming role as the boxer Christy Martin.

But let's circle back for a second. When the original photos ran, the Daily Mail went with the headline, "Sydney Sweeney shows off incredible bikini body while soaking up the sun at $13 million Florida Keys mansion." The New York Post also went with "shows off bikini body." US Weekly opted for "Is Lovely in a Lavender Bikini."

I feel like a real wacko for even having to say this, but here goes: STANDING IN WHAT IS PROBABLY YOUR BACKYARD IN A BIKINI AND A PERSON TAKING PHOTOS OF YOU THROUGH THE BUSHES IS NOT "SHOWING OFF."

I'm not going to share the images here, but when I first saw them, I thought Sydney was in her underwear. She may as well be. The discussion of a violation of privacy and the entitlement we feel over women's bodies should very much exist alongside the one of "body-shaming." As far as we know, Sydney did not consent to these photos being shared. If a man took photos of me wearing a thong in my house, I would call the cops. Spoiler alert: Women do not always have to be "on" for your consumption.

To be candid with you, I was a journalist throughout the Framing Britney Spears era. It felt like, for a moment, there was a real opportunity for reflection on paparazzi and women's privacy. Instead, it feels like the press of that era has become the perfect scapegoat: Well that was obviously wrong, but thankfully things are fine now. They're not. With smartphones, we're likely worse.

Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox. Just something to keep in mind, even when saying positive things about Sydney's appearance. Yikes.