FBI says it's addressing nude celebrity photos

Actress Jennifer Lawrence poses with her award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for her role in the film "American Hustle" backstage at the 71st annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California January 12, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

LOS ANGELES - The FBI says it is addressing allegations that nude photos of several female celebrities have been stolen and posted online.

A statement released by the agency Monday afternoon doesn't elaborate on what steps are being taken to determine how intimate images of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and other stars were leaked.

The photos of Lawrence and others began appearing online Sunday. The 24-year-old's publicist called the release of the images a violation of the actress's privacy.

Apple said Monday it is investigating whether any of its customers' iCloud accounts had been tampered with.

The FBI has investigated previous leaks of nude celebrity images, including leaks involving Scarlett Johansson, Christina Aguilera and footage shot of television sports reporter Erin Andrews in a Tennessee hotel room.

Jennifer Lawrence has contacted authorities to investigate who stole and posted nude images of the Oscar winner online, a publicist for the actress said.

"This is a flagrant violation of privacy," Lawrence's publicist Liz Mahoney wrote in a statement. "The authorities have been contacted and will prosecute anyone who posts the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrence."