To think that pic of the bare-tummied lady should not have been used?

[Chestnut99]

I am appalled at how many newspapers and websites have used the pic of the poor lady in an open yellow jacket/blouse who is sitting on a bench, dazed and in shock with her buttons blown off and her bra and tummy showing (Evening Standard yesterday, front page of today's Times etc etc). The least we can do for a victim of hideous terrorist attacks is respect her dignity, not plaster her over the media.

The Daily Mail has gone one further by finding a reason to repeat the pic today in a special "human interest" article naming her and telling us what her job is.

I would be utterly appalled if my own state of traumatised shock was taken advantage of in the same way, before I had come round and realised I was half dressed and showing my underwear. Shame on them all.

I'm not going to link to the pic because that will just make it worse. I am not usually particularly outspoken but I have complained to IPSO - //www.ipso.co.uk - about this because it intrudes on her privacy and her shock.

Poor woman - and poor Belgium

[OvariesBeforeBrovaries]

I'm so glad I wasn't the only one feeling that way. The poor poor woman :(

[Helmetbymidnight]

Funny person, I don't understand your point. Why do we 'keep getting bombed'?

[AdoraBell]

BTW, I wasn't trying to imply that the BBC wouldn't have shown it in any way, but I haven't seen it either on their news programmes or website. Obvs a question of timing.

[RudeElf]

Totally agree OP. I thought the same when i saw it yesterday and actually i could be wrong but the impression i got from the woman's face was that she either didnt realise a photo was being taken or she had just turned to face the camera. Her expression reminded me of so many photos of when someone's name is called and they turn without realising it is for a photo.

[SaucyJack]

"SaucyJack, do you really think anybody gives a shit what size she she is. The poor women is injured, in shock, has probably witnessed things most of us thankfully will never have to see and most of her clothes have been torn off. Size 6 or size 26, completely irrelevant."

But there are pictures every single day of people having been through traumatic events. Many of them having suffered far worse injury and in far more distress.

Do you really think it's co-incidence that the one that has chimed with women worldwide is one showing an unflattering picture of someone's muffin top?

[MyLocal]

I was upset that the journalist took the photograph, what did she do to help? You can see the shock in he Indian lady's face. Probably disbelief that someone was snapping away whilst she was seriously injured. I read today she is recovering in hospital.

I suspect the journalist has made a fortune out of her distress.

[Helmetbymidnight]

'an unflattering picture of someone's muffin too'
That's what you see?
Wow.

[opioneers]

The Guardian Tweet is still on my timeline here:

twitter.com/guardian/status/712695285810663424/photo/1

Would be great if anyone else on Twitter can complain directly to them. I've already complained to their readers' editor and will be doing the other one this evening.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

"recovering in hospital" according to her employers.

I found the other picture mentioned above, the couple kissing while someone behind them seems to be reaching out and asking for help a lot more disturbing. I don't know why.

Unfortunately with being switched on 24/7 and everyone having portable means of taking pictures, no amount of complaining is now ever going to stop this level of voyeurism. If that is what it is.

[SaucyJack]

I didn't mean that in a laughing at her way btw. It's just that out of all the terrible, terrible (and often gorier) pictures that are shown- this is the one that's been picked as the one we shouldn't show as it's undignified?

I quite possibly am sticking my own fear of being seen in public with my flab hanging onto this, but I don't think it's a coincidence that this is the woman we all identify with and feel sorry for.

[MrsFrankRicard]

I said exactly the same thing at work today, it's disrespectful.

[wiltingfast]

I thought it was horrifically intrusive. She is clearly in terrible shock, and half undressed. She was on the news as well but she wasn't that clear on the news and I actually didn't realise the state she was in. But when I saw the papers this morning I was very taken aback as her state is much more obvious and she is clearly identifiable in the newspapers. I'd be so upset if that was me.

For me it's her state of undress that takes it way too far. They should have some empathy and respect for the trauma suffered by people and certainly there is no need for them to add to it which they definitely have here.

Will definitely complain here too (Ireland)

I have to say though I didn't perceive it as racist. I certainly didn't notice she was Indian. I assumed she was European tbh. I think that was the most striking image so that is what they used. Prats.

[YellowTulips]

Thought exactly the same thing.

It's extremely disrespectful.

[hollyisalovelyname]

I agree. So intrusive at a time of great personal trauma.
Shame on whoever decided to use those pictures.

[lljkk]

yabvu. Not enough to say it was horrific.
The lady was nearly blown to kingdom come and all people can talk about is muffintop?

[Fluffy40]

I only hope she recovers soon, the mental scars will take much longer. Very intrusive photo.

[JeannePoole]

Adora The BBC News channel showed it several times yesterday during their rolling coverage.

Totally agree that it shouldn't have been used, and said same thing to DH last night.

OK, so involuntarily showing the world her underwear may not be the worst of her problems right now, but by the same token she probably doesn't need any more shit to deal with. The media should have a little bit more respect for the poor woman's dignity and a little bit less of a focus on creating clickbait at any cost.

[NameAgeLocation]

Hear hear Jeanne.

[opioneers]

The Guardian now have an article about the picture, but only in the sense of it being 'iconic' not seeing that there is any problem with it at all.

We get the Guardian, but the low level and persistent sexism of the picture desk has been bothering me for a while.

[DustyBustle]

How about focusing on what the real issue is here?

Jesus wept, give over

[GertrudeBadger]

I thought the same thing, disrespectful. If that were me or someone I knew in the photo I'd be firstly v glad they were alive and a bit appalled at the lowlife photographer taking that picture.
But generally I find I see all sorts of photos of people in body bags etc that are distressing.

[BethanKate]

I agree with OP. I know there are bigger issues but I was angry when I saw the picture, just thinking that the woman wouldn't have wanted to be photographed like that & wasn't in a fit state to say so. There may be situations where photographs need to be taken to show the true situation but this wasn't one of them - we can imagine how bad it was. There was also a picture in the Telegraph of a man lying on the ground with some of his clothes blown off. I don't think either should have been printed.

Perhaps the photographer could have covered her with her own jacket?

[mamas12]

I thought the same and complained to the BBC for using it
I haven't seen it since but I think I wasn't the on,ly complainant

[WhoTheFuckIsSimon]

Bbc interviewed the (female) journalist who took the photo earlier. She had happened to be in the airport when it all happened so guess she may have been in shock.

They specifically showed this picture and asked her how she would respond to criticism that when it happened she wasn't helping people but taking photos. She said that she couldn't help because she wasn't a Dr. She said she felt it was her duty to take photos to show the world what terrorism looks like.

My gut feeling is that is how she justified it to herself but she can't really believe it. She said Drs would help the wounded. My teenager would realise that while waiting for medical personnel to turn up you do what you can, whether that's basic first aid of pressure on wounds or even just holding someone's hand.........but then saying that plenty of people got up and ran and I suppose you don't know what you'd do. Maybe I would have been scared and left without helping??? But then she didn't leave, she stayed but didn't help which to me is worse.

One photo I saw which struck me was of an injured man on the floor and an apparantly Unijured man in a suit and with a briefcase striding past not even looking at the man. Bloke just looked like he was walking to work without a care in the world. Bizarre.

[PovertyPain]

The problem is we only see a snapshot of people, without seeing what happens later. The couple may just have found each other and reacted with relief, we don't know that they didn't go on to help people.
The man with the briefcase could have been in shock and/or injured. Explosions can cause injuries that would not first be apparent.
I don't think we should judge anyone in the photos.

I do, however judge the photographer that thought a photo of this poor lady was good to share with the world.