Report: Bieber Threatens to Sue Over Naked Photos, Happy With Public Reaction

Justin Bieber fans got an eyeful this week after the New York Daily News published a series of nude photos, exposing the pop star's front and backside. But it looks like the "What Do You Mean?" singer and his team may take legal action over the pics, which spread like wildfire on social media, TMZ reports.

Bieber and his team feel as though the nude photos invaded his privacy and outlets that posted the pics should take them down immediately, according to TMZ. The website confirms the singer's legal team sent a number of messages to websites that published the photos, which show him lounging around while on vacation in Bora Bora, and say they were taken without Bieber's knowledge.

TMZ notes Bieber will sue if the pictures are not taken down.

Billboard reports Bieber's lawyers sent the New York Daily news a cease-and-desist letter, arguing the singer owns the rights to the pics. The publication also spoke with two California-based legal experts to find out if publishing the photos is legal.

"Justin Bieber is what you generally refer to as a public figure, and when people are in plain view or public view, they're exposing themselves to the world, and anyone can take a picture of you when you're standing out in public view," Peter T. Haven told Billboard. "In my opinion, given the fact that he's a public figure, given the fact that he was in plain view or view that was accessible to the public, this just goes with the territory."

Mike Cavalluzzi told Billboard: "The right to publish is going to hinge on whether [the photos] are newsworthy, and it's very, very interesting because obviously anything about Justin Bieber is newsworthy. When you determine the newsworthiness of something, it doesn't have to be serious news. It doesn't have to be educational news. It merely has to be a matter that engages the public interest. Justin Bieber has placed himself into the public eye. He is constantly posting sexy images of himself on Twitter and on social media, which clearly shows that he is using his sexuality to engage the public. That's what the attorneys for anyone who has the photograph would argue. He's a public figure, he's made his sexuality a part of his fame...and therefore the fact these go a step further are fair game."

"The other side would argue that a person's private parts are something that only they can choose to show to the public and that this is the truest form of invasion to privacy because if Justin Bieber wants to show his penis, he should be the only person who owns that right to show his penis."

Haven said Bieber could say he was hurt or humiliated by the pics but said he doesn't think much of any of those claims.

It doesn't sound like Bieber is hurt or humiliated by the nudies. In a separate article, sources told TMZ Bieber isn't upset about the pics. Initially he was upset but when the pics went viral, he was happy with the reaction over his...large member.