Outrage in Italy as Adult Website Publishes Doctored Images of Prominent Women, Including Prime Minister Meloni

Italy is reeling from a scandal involving an adult website that disseminated manipulated images of several high-profile Italian women, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her sister Arianna. The images were accompanied by sexist and objectionable captions, generating widespread public anger. These images, which seem to have been gathered from social media and public sources, were altered and subsequently uploaded to Phica, an Italian adult website with more than 700,000 subscribers. The doctored images depicted female politicians from different political backgrounds, using images from rallies, TV interviews, and holiday snapshots. The alterations focused on zooming in on body parts or portraying the women in sexually suggestive poses. These modified images were then made available in the “VIP section” of the website. In response to the incident, members of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) have filed a legal complaint, prompting a police investigation. Other notable women, including Paola Cortellesi, an actress and filmmaker who directed *C’è Ancora Domani* (*There’s Still Tomorrow*), a film about domestic violence, and influencer Chiara Ferragni, were also targeted. Valeria Campagna, a PD politician who filed an official complaint, expressed her disgust, anger, and disappointment on Facebook, stating she couldn’t remain silent. She wrote, “Not just photos in a swimsuit but moments from my public and private life,” and added, “Beneath them there were sexist, vulgar and violent comments. I can’t stay silent because this story isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. It’s about our right to be free, respected and to live without fear.”