Gina Carano speaks out after Instagram removes nude photo: ‘Censored for no reason’

MMA News
Gina Carano speaks out after Instagram removes nude photo: ‘Censored for no reason’

Women’s MMA legend turned Hollywood star Gina Carano doesn’t appreciate being censored by the powers that be, and she’s let it be known.

Carano over the weekend shared a nude image of herself on Instagram, but by Monday – two days after she posted it – the social media site took it down.

Accompanying Carano’s post was an inspirational quote attributed to music icon Prince: “I find freedom sexy. I find freedom so sexy, I can’t even explain it to you. You wake up every day and feel like you can do anything.” 

With the image and message both removed, Carano spoke out against Instagram’s decision on Twitter, calling it “some classic bullsh*t” and stressing that “the whole post was about freedom of expression.”

“So that’s what it’s like to be censored for no reason,” she tweeted. “Pic was taken down by Instagram. There’s much more important news today but that was some classic bullsh*t. The whole post was about freedom of expression. Violating zero rules. Ironic. Feels like I graduated. Thanks Karen.”

As for Carano’s claim that she violated “zero rules,” Instagram’s community guidelines page states the following when it comes to posting nude photos:

“We know that there are times when people might want to share nude images that are artistic or creative in nature, but for a variety of reasons, we don’t allow nudity on Instagram. This includes photos, videos, and some digitally-created content that show sexual intercourse, genitals, and close-ups of fully-nude buttocks. It also includes some photos of female nipples, but photos of post-mastectomy scarring and women actively breastfeeding are allowed. Nudity in photos of paintings and sculptures is OK, too.”

The picture, which can be viewed here, is of a mostly silhouetted Carano fully nude from the waist up while she holds her head back with her hair down.

Carano, 38, began her professional MMA career in June 2006 and became a mainstream star despite never fighting in the UFC. She had her final fight in August 2009, losing to Cris Cyborg under the now-defunct Strikeforce banner; it was the only loss of her eight-fight career. Carano transitioned into acting shortly after and has appeared in films such as “Haywire,” “Fast and Furious 6,” “Deadpool,” and most recently had a starring role in the Star Wars series “The Mandalorian” on Disney+.

Gina Carano speaks out after Instagram removes nude photo: 'Censored for no reason'