It should have been a triumphant night for Jennifer Lawrence. After an appearance on Late Show With Dave Letterman on Nov. 12, she left the Ed Sullivan Theater to sign autographs for a throng of waiting fans — but that’s when she got blindsided by an embarrassing episode that’s been plaguing her for weeks.
“These guys outside Letterman rushed her, holding up her nude photos, yelling for her to sign them,” a witness explains, referencing the actress’ naked selfies that leaked online in August. “The crowd then became rowdy, knocking over the barricade and freaking her out. Immediately she ran to her car with six bodyguards practically carrying her, and they quickly sped off.”
While the moment was scary, what The Hunger Games star really found frightening was that the public hasn’t been able to move past her nude picture scandal, and she’s terrified they never will. “That night really screwed with her head, just when she was moving on with her life,” a friend admits. “She was shaken up and cried.”
Making matters worse, Jennifer suspects that the pictures were just the tip of the iceberg. “There may be a video that could have been leaked,” the source explains. “Jennifer refuses to talk about it, but it might be something sexual. She’s suffering from panic attacks. Jennifer’s close friends have never seen her in this state before.”
While dozens of stars have had intimate images stolen from their phones — and the shots have since been taken down — the Oscar-winning actress was hit the hardest by far, with an astounding 100-plus explicit images released. At first, she went on the offensive, labeling the theft as a “sex crime,” but behind closed doors, her life has become a nightmare. “Jennifer feels like she’s suffered the ultimate act of violation and is more serious than ever about keeping herself and her family safe,” says her pal. “She’s terrified that any more leaks will harm her career.”
To cope during this rough period, the 24-year-old is leaning on her family and closest friends. “Jen is a great person with a lovely soul. If there is anyone who’s strong enough to get through this difficult situation, it’s her,” the source confides. “She’s a simple Kentucky girl who has been blessed with more love than she can handle. The No. 1 thing keeping her going is her family’s strong healthy support system.”
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