Rihanna in a reasonable "safe for work" outfit at the Autumn Winter 2014 Jean Paul Gaultier show. Credit: Showbit
NSFW = Not Safe For Work – the one word that describes Rihanna’s Instagram account to a T. The pop star lived on the social media platform through her uncensored pictures that bared much of her always bikini-ready body – that would earn you more than a stern stare from your boss should you be daft enough to browse @BadGalRiri on your office computer. That’s what your mobile phone is for, guys.
But right now, the Instagram world is a much safer place for work since @badGalRiri seems to be inactive. In April, Rihanna posted her topless cover of Lui magazine on Instagram. The social media platform swiftly removed the image that was obviously not in line with its censorship rules. @badGalRiri was then briefly disabled. Instagram claimed that this was a mistake made by its automated system – yeah right but right now, all followers see is a blank page when they access Rihanna’s Instagram account. Bummer.
Source: Grace Coddington's Instagram
That was not the end of the saga though. Grace Coddington, the creative director of Vogue, had everyone in the fashion world in a tizzy when she finally bit the bullet and joined Instagram. Her sketches of her cats are as well known as her red hair. Coddington’s first post was a cheeky drawing of herself sunbathing nude – with her doodled bits out on full display. Unfortunately, Instagram wasn’t as tickled as the rest of us and shut down the new account. It was soon restored and unfazed, the creative director’s second post was a drawing of her cats with their privates blacked out for decency.
Source: Scout Willis Twitter
The latest drama comes in the form of Rihanna-supporter Scout Willis – daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore. The actress whose Instagram pictures have also been a victim of the photo sharing site’s no nudity policy has taken to the streets of New York topless. Ironically, it’s legal to bare one’s nipples in the Big Apple but not on Instagram. So Willis tweeted a picture of herself, strolling freely and topless in New York with the caption “What @instagram won’t let you see #freethenipple”.
Source: Miley Cyrus Twitter
This isn’t the first time the hashtag has been used by celebrities. Not surprisingly, Miley Cyrus has previously freed her nipples in New York and Cara Delevingne has been spotted in a Free the Nipple slogan tee.
While the conservative may frown at this unlikely campaign, what Rihanna and Willis are looking to do, besides give a huge middle finger to Instagram is to speak up against the public’s over censorship of breasts. Still, may we remind you that freeing your nipples in Singapore is deemed as an indecent act and hence, illegal.
Yay or nay? What do you think about Willis' over-the-top support to the #freethenipple movement?