The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is investigating Marines who shared nude pictures of female service members, veterans and others on the Marines’ Facebook page.
An ex-girlfriend of a Marine who let him take nude pictures of her before he posted them online now says she is scared to go out in public because of the remarks men have made to her.
Kelsie Stone broke up with her boyfriend in 2016, then found out from a friend that screenshots of her nude had allegedly been posted of her on the Facebook page “Marines United.”
Stone works as a bartender in an area with many Marines, and said that the pictures, which she sent to her boyfriend when they were dating, have elicited some unwanted comments. She told Marine Corps Times, “Some of the comments have them mentioning how they liked what they saw, how could they get some of that or whatever. I’ve been called a whore for even sending pictures like that in the first place.”
Stone said her ex-boyfriend is receiving plaudits “because apparently posting pictures of a woman on social media is brownie points for a lot of Marines these days.”
Stone is not alone; Elle Audra, a former Marine Corps corporal, asserted nude pictures of her were also posted on the Marines United Facebook page. She surmised that after receiving harassing messages on social media. She stated, “The messages are usually something around like: ‘Where were you when I was in? I would’ve f****d you too.’”
Audra added that one man who knew when and where she had deployed asked if she would have sex with him.
Law enforcement investigators and Capitol Hill representatives are examining the issue of the privacy violations. Audra pointed out, “I advocate for survivors of sexual assault and I’m beyond relieved that someone finally told the truth about what actually happens to most female Marines. I believe this is a start to a better and safer Marine Corps.”
Marine Corps spokesman Maj. Christian Devine was furious, saying, “As a father of a young lady growing up in today’s digital information environment, I find this type of voyeurism disturbing and the subsequent justification of it to be repulsive. People who do this to others, regardless of their proclaimed affiliation to military culture, are cowards. Their actions are inconsistent with the Marine Corps’ values and team building, and it impedes our collective ability to perform our mission and win.”
Stone concluded, “Some days I don’t want to leave my house. Some days I’m hesitant to even go into the gas station. My dad is a retired gunnery sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, so I grew up thinking the Marines were it — that there was no better for honor and integrity. I grew up a Marine brat and this isn’t the Marine Corps image my dad fought to represent.”