Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis insist that they only played bedfellows in “Friends With Benefits” and are not so offscreen, despite reports that they exchanged racy cell phone pictures and texts.
“At no time did Mr. Timberlake and Ms. Kunis exchange inappropriate texts or emails,” their reps said in a statement to People. “The insistence that there is any inappropriate correspondence between the two parties is entirely false.”
Kunis and Timberlake were thought to be the latest victims of a cell phone hacker ring believed to be responsible for stealing nude photos and videos from at least 50 female celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson.
According to TMZ, four pictures were hacked, two showing Timberlake looking seductive. In one picture, he’s lying shirtless in bed. In another, he jokingly wears a pair of pink panties on his head.
In addition, there’s a shot of Kunis in the bathtub and another showing an unidentified nude man.
TMZ also reported that the hacker found sexually tinged text exchanges between Timberlake and Kunis.
The stars’ reps put rumors to rest.
“We would like to confirm that the photo addressed in the media of Ms. Kunis was in fact not from any phone but from an inactive email account that has not existed in three years. In regards to the other photos in question, they were never exchanged between the two parties,” the statement said.
To show that the actors weren’t taking the situation too seriously, their reps referred to Timberlake’s song “D*** in the Box,” which he performed in a “Saturday Night Live” skit with Andy Samberg.
“In closing, Mr. Timberlake would like us to make it clear that while he might write songs about putting things in boxes, he never has and definitely doesn’t make a habit of taking any photos of them and sending them,” the statement said. “Ms. Kunis would like us to add that while she is a fan of the song, she does not have nor has ever had photos of any male parts in her possession.”
Joking aside, both actors are working with authorities and will pursue any required legal action, according to People. Johansson is also reportedly cooperating with the FBI in an investigation of how nude photos, which she appears to have taken of herself, were leaked on a website last week.
Kunis and Johansson are not the first celebrities to have their phones and email accounts hacked. Others include Jessica Alba, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Christina Aguilera, Vanessa Hudgens, Ali Larter and Miley Cyrus.
TMZ reported earlier this year that the FBI was closing in on the ring believed to have broken into the accounts of stars’ cell phones and other computerized devices to obtain the compromising photos and videos.
Beth Jones, a senior threat researcher at the Internet security company Sophos, offered a suggestion to stars worried about becoming the victims of hackers.
“I hate to point out the obvious, but not taking nude photos on your phone is your first line of defense. Remember Polaroids?” Jones told ABCNews.com.
