Erin O’Connor says Instagram deleted Mother’s Day pregnancy photo for breaking ‘nudity guidelines’

Model Erin O’Connor has shared her anger aft Instagram allegedly removed a photograph showing her astatine 8 and a half months pregnant, which nan prima shared to people Mother’s Day.

The manner manufacture fable posted nan achromatic and achromatic shot, which was taken by photographer Nick Knight successful 2014, connected her societal media relationship earlier this month, to observe “all those who proceed to nurture, support, emotion & protect children (close to location & crossed nan world) successful each way, style & form”. The photograph has since been reinstated connected nan platform, albeit pinch a informing that nan station “contains contented that immoderate group whitethorn find upsetting”.

The image shows a naked O’Connor pinch 1 manus resting connected her pregnant belly, and was captured while she was expecting her first child, Albert.

O’Connor, 48, said that she had received a connection from Meta, Instagram’s genitor company, telling her that nan photograph had been removed for breaching nan platform’s nudity guidelines.

The connection besides reportedly included a reference to “freedom of expression”, stating: “We want you to stock freely pinch others. We only region things aliases restrict group to support nan organization respectful and safe.”

The Independent has contacted Meta for further comment.

O’Connor said that she had complained to nan company, claiming that nan incident was an illustration of “inconceivable” double standards, arsenic women are “hypersexualised connected a regular basis”.

“It feels inconceivable that a heavy pregnant naked female could beryllium perceived arsenic offensive, erstwhile she stands successful her afloat power, her assemblage astatine its astir extraordinary, embodying its innate expertise to grow, commencement and prolong caller life,” she told an assemblage astatine nan National Gallery connected Friday.

“It’s specified a shame that that would beryllium violative successful nan 21st century, and yet successful galleries everyplace you person these very sensual and seductive images of women,” she added.

O’Connor, who roseate to fame successful nan Nineties, said it was “ironic” that connected Mother’s Day, “the 1 time our bodies should beryllium honoured successful their astir earthy state”, she had been “scrutinised and judged”.

After nan photograph was reinstated, O’Connor told The Guardian that she was “incredibly grateful that Meta took nan clip to reappraisal and yet reconstruct specified a meaningful and important image. It intends truthful overmuch to person this infinitesimal of strength, vulnerability and ceremony of motherhood, recognised and respected”.