Remove shirtless Justin Trudeau images from ads, B.C. photographer tells Conservative Party
'There's much more interest in ... a shirtless photo of the PM [than] ... jobs lost in Canada'
The photographer who snapped images of a shirtless Justin Trudeau on a B.C. beach is accusing the federal Conservative Party of illegally using her photos as part of a social media campaign.
Marnie Recker said the attack ads used the photo she shot at a wedding along with a caption that reads: "Canada lost 110,000 jobs recently. And the prime minister is still on vacation."
"For a national political party to take my photo, which is clearly watermarked, blow it up so the watermark isn't visible and use it in this way is unlawful and they should be held accountable," Recker said in a written statement Wednesday.
She said the ads appeared on the party's Facebook and Twitter feeds, as well as its website, on Aug. 8.
Stealing and disrespecting my work at the same criticizing the <a href="https://twitter.com/liberal_party">@liberal_party</a> for lost jobs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hypocrisy?src=hash">#hypocrisy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trudeau?src=hash">#Trudeau</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CPC_HQ">@CPC_HQ</a>
—@marniereckerRecker said she immediately hired a lawyer to serve the Conservative Party with a cease and desist letter, which was sent Tuesday and requested the image be taken down within 24 hours.
The Conservative Party responded to CBC's requests for comments with an email, noting the image had been removed.
"It's unfortunate there's much more interest in, and concern about, a shirtless photo of the prime minister over the 110,000 jobs lost in Canada in the last two months," wrote Cory Hann, director of communications for the Conservative Party of Canada.
"Regardless, per the individual's complaint, the photo has been removed," said Cory Hann, director of communications for the Conservative Party of Canada.
As of Wednesday evening, the images did not appear on the party's Twitter or Facebook accounts or its website.
