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September 7, 2007
'High School Musical' Star in Nude Photo Scandal
Vanessa Hudgens' squeaky-clean image just got a makeover.
Photos of the actress posing naked have been leaked to various websites, and now the 18-year-old star of "High School Musical" is speaking out.
A rep for the young star says, "This photo was taken privately. It is a personal matter and it is unfortunate that this has become public."
The photo shows Vanessa standing naked in what appears to be a bathroom.
Reps for the Walt Disney Co., the brains behind the wildly popular "High School" franchise, have not commented.
The scandalous photo - which "Extra" has learned was obtained illegally - are a far cry from Vanessa's Disney image.
She plays brainy and innocent Gabriella, the love interest of Zac Efron's character in the first two movies. The two are now a couple, though Vanessa has tried to stay mum on their relationship.
Vanessa is currently in talks to resume her role for "High School Musical 3," though nothing has been confirmed.
Earlier this month she told "Extra," "I am so lucky in the fact that I got that role. It could have been anyone. It totally wasn't what I was expecting."
Vanessa told "Extra" she was already aware of the pressure to be a good role model.
She said, "I totally love it because there are people out there doing the wrong things and making the wrong decisions...I love being able to be the good one and set good examples."
Today there is already fallout from the scandal.
On her Myspace page, dozens of fans are writing in to voice support and disdain.
One fan writes, "Keep your head up!" and others write that something so private should never be splashed across the web.
But some have less sympathy and are vowing to never watch her on television again, blasting that she is a bad role model for young girls.
So does this mean Vanessa's career with "High School Musical" is over?
There are already rumors that Disney has given Vanessa the boot and hired Adrienne Bailon from Disney's "The Cheetah Girls" to play Gabriella.
But rep just issued a statement to In Touch, saying, "Oh my, that story is so 100 percent not true. Vanessa's not an 'employee' of Disney, there's nothing to be fired from."
Email
OK, I can understand that for some people this may not seem like a big deal. But for those of us with young kids to explain this to, it’s huge. As a mom, I resent being placed in this position. She marketed herself as a wholesome role model. Listen to her own words. Nobody forced that on her. I don’t think there is much chance that she will appear in HSM3. Nor should there be. Actually, I’m pretty soured on the whole thing anyway at this point. I don’t think we’ll be watching it regardless of who is in it.