Just to make things more difficult, the photograph was allegedly taken by Zac
Efron, Hudgens's 19-year-old boyfriend, and her co-star on the show. Together,
the couple are by far the biggest "tween" stars in America, frequently
appearing on the covers of celebrity magazines.
It is not known how the photograph ended up being published on the internet.
All this has left Walt Disney company - and its superstar chief executive, Bob
Iger - with an impossible dilemma. If it supports Hudgens, will more nude
pictures, some more explicit than the first, later emerge? And if it dumps Ms
Hudgens, will fans dump the show?
So far, the company has chosen to back Hudgens, for fear of meddling with a
proven formula, thus forcing parents across the country to have to explain to
their children why their teen idol had disappeared from the screen.
High School Musical, about a group of teenagers putting on a show, was watched
by 7.7 million people on its first showing in 2006, then a record for the
Disney Channel.
This summer's sequel attracted 17 million viewers, putting it at the top of the
television ratings. The show has turned into a bonanza for Disney. It has
spawned DVDs, soundtracks, books, video games, a concert tour, and even an
exclusive line of Wal-Mart merchandise.
It also turned Bob Iger into a hero on Wall Street, where investors have been
bidding up Walt Disney's stock price.
Having already produced a sequel, Disney has now "green-lit" a third instalment
of High School Musical, due for release next year. However, contract
negotiations for all the actors are still thought to be ongoing. "Vanessa has
apologised for what was obviously a lapse in judgment," said a spokeswoman for
the Disney Channel, Patti McTeague. "We hope she's learned a valuable lesson."
As for Hudgens, she told her fans this weekend: "I am embarrassed over this
situation and regret having ever taken these photos. I am thankful for the
support of my family and friends."
In the show, Hudgens plays the part of the class swot, Gabriella. Her love
interest is Troy, a basketball star played by Zac Efron. The fictional version
of their romance is toned down by Walt Disney to the point where they barely
kiss.
According to PR experts, Disney's current strategy is the right one.
"What they shouldn't do is make a bigger deal out of it than is necessary,"
said Michael Levine, a Hollywood image consultant and author of 18 books. "The
[nude] picture is not salacious."
