The hacking of Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones's website and personal information are now the subject of an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security in the US.
Speaking to US film trade publication Variety, a representative for the department said: "ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] Homeland Security Investigations in New York does currently have an open investigation. As a matter of agency policy, we are unable to disclose any information related to an active investigation."
The comedienne's website, JustLeslie.com, was taken offline following the cyber attack, which involved the accessing of Jones's iCloud account. Copies of her passport and driving licence were published on the site along with naked photos of Jones.
An image of Harambe, the gorilla who was shot dead at Cincinnati Zoo last May, also appeared in an apparent racist insult, along with personal photos of Jones posing with stars including Rihanna, Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West, according to reports.
Several celebrities have voiced their support for the Saturday Night Live star, who briefly quit Twitter last month after she was subjected to a barrage of racist abuse.
Ghostbusters director Paul Feig branded the latest incident "an absolute outrage", while Oscar-winning actress Patricia Arquette warned those sharing explicit photos of Jones that they were "participating in a sex crime".
Katy Perry also defended Jones, writing on Twitter: "Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime. I StandWithLeslie."
Do not give your eyeballs to this racist, hate-filled, misogynoir crime. I #StandWithLeslie ❤️
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) August 24, 2016
Girls star Lena Dunham tweeted: "Let's turn our anger at trolls into love for Leslie Jones and into strategies to protect all the heroines who don't deserve this b*******."
Jones has not commented about the incident on social media.
Let's turn our anger at trolls into love for Leslie Jones and into strategies to protect all the heroines who don't deserve this bullshit
— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) August 24, 2016
