Yahoo Finance Sharon Osbourne defends model selling nude photos for Australian fire relief: 'God bless you!'
Sharon Osbourne wants you to know that if you’re going to criticise others you’d better put your money where your mouth is.
As wildfires continue to ravage large portions of Australia, many are calling for donations to relief efforts. But one Instagram model, Kaylen Ward, is taking a different approach — selling nude photos of herself to raise money.
Some have criticised Ward, who has dubbed herself as “the Naked Philanthropist” on Twitter, but Osbourne says she should be hailed as a hero.
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“Gimme a break,” said Osbourne of Ward’s critics on Tuesday’s episode of US panel show The Talk.
big sushi gorl pic.twitter.com/TTqcKH62L7
— THE NAKED PHILANTHROPIST (@lilearthangelk) December 20, 2019
The former X Factor host said that Ward’s efforts are “more than what the social media network has done, more than what I have done, more than what you’ve done. Therefore, this woman should be applauded.”
The outspoken co-host added, “It’s her body, it’s her life and she’s putting her body in the spotlight to raise money, so God bless you!”
Ward told BuzzFeed News she’s raised an estimated $1 million, equivalent to roughly £762,435.
Despite Ward’s noble effort — or perhaps because of it — her account was suspended. A Facebook spokesperson told BuzzFeed News in part, “Offering nude images is not allowed on Instagram.”
Viewers on Twitter were split, but many said they agreed with Osbourne that Ward’s efforts to help shouldn’t be cast aside.
Couldn’t agree with @MrsSOsbourne more!! That woman with the nude pics has done more. #EverybodyTalks who cares how she does it, she knows how to get men to donate.
— Mitch ™Ⓜ️ (@kade6767) January 7, 2020
kaylen ward deserves an award
— Nick (@nick_forcier) January 7, 2020
But others wrote that Ward is approaching the issue in an entirely inappropriate way:
@TheTalkCBS No @sharonosborne if we use @instagram as a porn platform how will our children have a safe place to post! Every BODY doesn’t need to be a model. Take it to Hustler and do whatever your BODY wants! @sherylunderwood No Love we can’t do that babe!
— April Simmons (@MyAprLove) January 7, 2020
@TheTalkCBS Sharon really?? Ok to post nude photos for money???
— Veronica (@vzmom) January 7, 2020
Ward’s Instagram account has since been deactivated, although she is still active on Twitter.
She told fans her efforts to help the bushfire relief had had repercussions, as she posted: “My IG got deactivated, my family disowned me, and the guy I like won’t talk to me all because of that tweet. But f**k it, save the koalas.”
