On Wednesday, it was reported that Saturday Night Live comedian Leslie Jones' website was hacked resulting in the leak of personal information and nude photos. The New York Daily News reported those responsible for the hack "exposed a series of nude photos," released scans of her license and passport photo, and posted a video of Cincinnati Zoo's deceased gorilla Harambe at the top of her website. At the time of the report, Bustle reached out to Jones' rep for comment, but did not receive an immediate response. On Thursday, Variety confirmed that Homeland Security Investigations is investigating Jones' website hack.
"ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York does currently have an open investigation," a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security released in a statement to Variety. "As a matter of agency policy, we are unable to disclose any information related to an active investigation." The Hollywood Reporter also confirmed Homeland Security's investigation after speaking with a spokeswoman for the FBI field office in New York, who said the FBI itself is not involved with Jones' case, but that the hack is being handled by HSI.
After the hack was announced, Jones' website, Just Leslie, was taken down and no longer exists. As THR reports, before the website was removed, there were allegedly references on the site that made it seem the hack was done by Milo Yiannopoulus supporters as a sort of retaliation. The Brietbart writer was banned from Twitter in July after targeting Jones during the same time she received a slew of hateful, abusive, and racist tweets. Yiannopoulus released a statement to THR regarding the hack and said, "I'm distressed to hear that Leslie Jones has been hacked and naked pictures of her have been posted online. I know we had our differences after my review of Ghostbusters but I wish her all the best at what must be a deeply upsetting time."
