Like Peanut Butter and Chocolate: "High School Musical," Naked Pix

Walt Disney is spinning in his motherf---ing grave today, as the naked picture of "High School Musical" cutie Vanessa Hudgens making the rounds on the Internet turns out to be the real deal. Or just maybe Walt would admire the marketing savvy here, despite the hit his brand is taking in the family values department. I mean, just when the "High School Musical 2" wave has crested and is ready to start going down, suddenly there's this pic, which ought to spike traffic to all things "HSM" for a few days, anyway. You may or may not want to look at naked pictures of a teenaged starlet, that's between you and your god or your mom or whatever. But it's frickin' fascinating to try to parse the PR strategy here.

In addition to the bump "HSM" is going to get, there's also the question of what this means for the actors involved. Is Hudgens really stupid enough to take a pic like this (and three more in nice lingerie) and accidentally allow them to find their way to the Internet? Is this the silly, lovestruck move of a girl who's not nearly as grown-up as she looks? Or is it a cynical attempt to raise her visibility compared to her co-stars? To break her out of the tweener-audience prison and reach an adult (more or less) audience.

Much of the Internet comment on the matter focuses on the theory that this is somehow intended to cover up for "HSM" superstar and supposed Hudgens boyfriend Zac Efron, who is, many online posters claim, secretly gay gay gay. (They note that in all of the "candid" photo ops with Efron and Hudgens frolicking  scantily clad on beaches, etc., ol' Zac doesn't seem to be taking all that active of an interest in her rather appealing torso.) Under this theory, the duo's publicists hope if everyone thinks Ashley sending Zac naked cellphone snaps, the gay rumor would evaporate, at least among the more gullible fans. Now, I'm not saying the Hollywood PR machine wouldn't think that way - you can't be too cynical in that world. But if Efron is gay, and he and Hudgens aren't really in love, then would she expose herself in this fashion to provide him PR cover?? Or could the PR machine make her? I mean, it's not like they can blackmail her with naked pictures, right?

And yes, she's 18.

ONTD has a big stack of not-quite-naked pics over here, but for the full monty you'll have to head over to Ninjadude.

UPDATED: Hudgens apologizes to her fans and Disney stands by her.

Comments

[Aaron]

I can't believe it. I mean. Sure, horny teenagers do stupid stuff. But ... seriously, if you take a naked pic, you can assume it's on the internet somewhere. Just... foolish!

[Smoove B]

And thank heaven they do foolish things. I mean...damn

[Gollumgal]

The age is in dispute. Some pictures like the full-on starkers one looks to be done at 18, but the others people think was done a few years back.

Also people are saying that her ex posted them and that she (stupidly) hosted them on a photosharing website. It doesn't take much sleuthing to find them.

[keith]

what the heck is this ? you can t see the good parts ?

[Smoove B]

Keith - These douches didnt post the full pic but if you follow that link u can see it all

[IsThisGuySerious]

I love Vanessa Hudgens, but nude pics of an 18 year old disney star? She had to have seen the headline coming. Info and high-res pics are at isthisguyserious dot com...gotta admit though, I think she's a bit hotter with her clothes on!

[gurlie247]

that damn bitch is such a whore slut bag i mean my daughter watches that bitch on t.v so now wen she heares bout this on the news now wat am i gonna tell her my husband is very pissed bout this stupid shit that shes pullin on the internet..lol this is disney channel not the pb channel.. if she wanted to show this stuff to the world than maybe she should of called hughe heffner.. OMG I NEVER LIKED THAT WHORE EVER SINCE SHE APPEARED ON DISNEY CHANNEL ON F UCKIN CABLE..!!!!!!!!

[bailey]

omg how could you do this vanessa?!!!!!!! You are beautiful you are a great singer you are like perfect!!! It is just that when you are trying to do something thats innapropriate dont show other people! And if you dont know what this means that sucks but you may get kicked off disney channel and everyone will spread roomers about ALL over the world. But by the way i will ALWAYS NO MATTER WHAT be your #1 fan!!! I love you vanessa!

[ANNONOMYS]

I THINK THAT THIS IS JUST DISGUSTING AND I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY SHE WOULD EVEN THINK ABOUT TAKING PICTURES NAKED.SERIOUSLY I EAN AND UNDERAGE TOO?? . . . . ?? I JUST DONT GET IT

[emily]

i cant believe you did that vanessa you were my role model just like ashley tisdale is but now i only have one and that is not you because a naked pic is horrible

[Taylor]

OMFG!!!! Nessa was trying to get over the whole thing and yall put this pic on here! She knows it was foolish! but people seriously shes actually a really nice person. you should really be ashamed that you put this picture on here.