The Irish Daily Star grabbed some history-making headlines over the summer when it published photos of a topless Duchess of Cambridge taken while she was sunbathing in France. The story was an international scandal, and Middleton and the royal family were outraged that her privacy was invaded while she was at a private residence.
The tabloid defended the publication of the photos at the time and did not offer an apology, but now the paper’s editor, Michael O’Kane, has resigned from his position under pressure from the newspaper’s owner.
“As a result of the publication … issues arose with the shareholders of Independent Star Limited,” the Irish Daily Star wrote in a statement. “Having considered those issues in tandem with Mr O’Kane, it is Mr O’Kane’s decision to resign as editor of the Irish Daily Star, effective immediately.”
Though the photos caused outrage amongst many because of their blatant invasiveness, some argued that just because they were of Kate Middleton did not make them scandalous.
“These photos are not in the least shocking,” Closer editor Laurence Pieau said. “They show a young woman sunbathing topless, like the millions of women you see on beaches.”