Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner, photographed at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala in April 2014, is prepared to sue over illegally shot photos of him wearing a dress. The pictures were published by CNN and the New York Daily News, both of which have since taken them down. Getty Images

Bruce Jenner is not happy with photographers for snapping photos of him wearing a dress outside his Malibu home. Both CNN and New York Daily News shared the photos, which showed a maxi dress-clad Jenner smoking a cigarette on his patio. Taken earlier this month, the pictures came out two days before ABC aired “Bruce Jenner: The Interview” with Diane Sawyer, in which he confirmed he is transitioning from male to female. They were the first to show the former Olympian wearing women’s clothing.

According to Us Weekly, the snapshots were taken by X17, a paparazzi agency, using a long-distance lens. They are thought to have been taken from a mile or more away from the house. The company responsible for taking the photos has conceded that they were taken illegally and has stopped selling them.

“Both Daily News and CNN pulled the photos sold to them by X17 once they found out they were illegally obtained. The agency no longer is selling those photos [since] they confirmed they were shot illegally,” a representative for Jenner told Page Six.

Under California law it is illegal to use lenses, such as telephoto lenses, “to procure images of people engaged in ‘personal or familial activity.’” The statement added that the photographers responsible could “be found liable for invasion of privacy” if Jenner pursues legal action.

Days after the photo leak, Jenner sat down with ABC’s Diane Sawyer to share with millions of viewers that he is, in fact, transitioning from male to female. The 65-year-old athlete-turned-celebrity shared details about when he first discovered he had “the soul of a female,” how he has coped with it through the years, and his plans for moving forward. Jenner did not discuss when he thought his transition would be complete, but he did confirm he will be doing a spinoff show on E! that will follow him on the journey.

Jenner has not yet asked to be identified using female pronouns or provided a name other than his birth name.

RELATED STORIES