Kate Middleton Photo Scandal, Editor Resigns After Publishing Topless Pics
St. James Palace scored another victory in the Kate Middleton topless photos scandal.
After taking legal action to prevent additonal publishing of the infamous images, the editor of the Irish Daily Star has resigned.
Michael O'Kane, the editor of the Irish Daily Star, did not regret publishing photos of the Duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless during her personal vacation in southern France. However, due to pressures from the publishing company's shareholders and threats from the owners to cease the publication, O'Kane decided to step down.
Richard Desmond, a media mogul who co-owns the paper, had threatened to shut down the Dublin-based tabloid. The Irish Daily star then issued the following statement to BBC:
"As a result of the publication ... issues arose with the shareholders of Independent Star Limited. Having considered those issues in tandem with Mr O'Kane, it is Mr O'Kane's decision to resign as editor of the Irish Daily Star."
Desmond's company Northern and Shell, the owners of the Irish Daily Star, disagreed with O'Kane's decision to publish the topless photographs of Middleton, stating that the company "very much regret the distress it has caused."
An investigation into O'Kane's practices immediately ensued but according to the report, O'Kane did "follow all editorial policies and guidelines." The Irish Daily Star ran the topless photos in September, though the images first appeared in the French gossip, weekly magazine Closer.
On Sept. 14, Closer published topless photos of Middleton sunbathing with her husband Prince William. The exclusive photos were taken by a photographer nearly a kilometer away while they were relaxing at a private house. The pictures have been deemed "grotesque and totally unjustifiable" by the shocked royal family, and have saddened the Duchess of Cambridge.
The royal couple won an injunction against Closer on Sept.18. The issued court order prevents the French magazine from running the photos of Middleton both online and offline.
Police officers arrive at the Closer building in France and detectives confirmed to reporters that they were looking for information "which might lead to the identity" of the photographer responsible for the scandal, according to Daily News & Analysis.
The identity of the photographer who took pictures is still a secret, but another photojournalist at the time said he knew who did it.
Celebrity photographer Pascal Rostain told the Herald Sun he and other paparazzi photographers know who took the controversial shots of the Duchess of Cambridge, but he wouldn't reveal the name.
"In our small paparazzi world, we know who it is but obviously don't say anything," Rostain said. "I can just say it is an Irish national who lives in the south of France."
He did hint that some British tabloids have labeled the photographer "Le Rat."
