Tehran, Iran – Whitney Wright, an American adult film performer, has caused outrage in Iran after visiting the country and sharing photos of herself wearing a hijab at landmarks in the capital.
The actress, whose real name is Brittni Rayne Whittington, posted images on social media of her trip to Tehran earlier this week. In the photos, she is seen dressed modestly in a headscarf while posing at sites like the former U.S. embassy and the Golestan Palace.
Her posts quickly went viral, provoking strong reactions from Iranians as well as criticism from activists abroad. Many were angered that an adult film star was allowed entry and able to freely visit Iran, where production and consumption of pornography are illegal.
Strict Social Codes
The Islamic Republic of Iran imposes strict dress and moral codes on its citizens, especially women. Iranian women are required by law to wear the hijab in public at all times, showing only their face and hands. Violating this dress code can result in fines, arrest, and even imprisonment.
In recent years, Iranian authorities have cracked down on women improperly wearing the mandatory headscarf. Some who pushed the boundaries of acceptable dress have faced charges for crimes against public morality and chastity.
The most high-profile case involved Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in September 2022 after being detained by Iran’s morality police for wearing her hijab too loosely. Her death sparked nationwide protests that have roiled Iran for months.
Against this backdrop of restrictions on Iranian women, many saw Whitney Wright’s visit as a glaring double standard. On social media, Iranians decried the hypocrisy of the regime allowing an American porn star to enter and tour their country, while repressing its own female citizens for how they dress.
“She can come to Iran and travel freely while Iranian women get arrested for showing some hair,” said Twitter user @IranLionness. “This shows what a joke the compulsory hijab law is.”
Sparse Details on Visit
Very little is known about the specifics of Whitney Wright’s visit to Iran. It remains unclear how she obtained a visa as a U.S. citizen looking to enter Iran as a tourist. The two countries have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1980.
Wright has not revealed the purpose or motivation behind her trip to Tehran. On Instagram, she stated that she “HAD to visit” the former U.S. embassy in Iran, but did not elaborate further.
Some internet commentators have speculated that her visit could have been financed by entities within Iran seeking to use her stardom in support of the regime’s anti-Israel policies.
Wright is a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause who has previously described herself as anti-Zionist. However, there is no evidence of any direct Iranian government involvement in her visit.
The actress has since departed Iran, stating on social media that she is “no longer in Iran, but elsewhere.” Iranian authorities do not appear to have made any public statements addressing Wright’s trip.
Harsh Laws, But Selective Enforcement
While pornography is completely banned in Iran, the law seems to be selectively enforced by authorities. Visiting Western porn stars seem to slide under the radar, while the hammer comes down hard on Iranians linked to adult content.
Just last month, Iran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced an Iranian man and three women to lengthy prison terms for allegedly producing pornography. Two of the women were sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Yet despite the utterly contradictory stances, Iran’s security apparatus did not prevent or act against Whitney Wright as she toured Tehran and documented her travels on social media for the world to see.
This leads critics to accuse Iran of rampant hypocrisy in how it polices morality and religious values. The regime appears to bend its own rules to avoid conflict with certain Western visitors, while interrogating, imprisoning, and killing Iranians, especially women, for violating the same moral codes.
Activists Spotlight Irony
Iranian activists and opponents of the regime used Wright’s visit to highlight this irony.
Masih Alinejad, a prominent activist based in New York, condemned Wright on social media for visiting Iran where women are jailed for not covering their hair properly.
Alinejad called the porn star’s trip “a clear double standard,” stating: “Iranian women don’t want to obey a discriminatory law.”
Other activists pointed out the jarring juxtaposition of Iran recently sentencing Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi to over 8 years in prison, while freely welcoming Whitney Wright at the same time.
Critics say the scandal illustrates how little the mandatory dress and morality codes seem to apply to foreigners, as Iranian citizens continue to face grave consequences for resisting them.
Many expressed hope that the blatant hypocrisy on display leads more Iranians to question and stand up to the regime’s heavy-handed imposition of religious values in the public sphere. If changes can be secured regarding compulsory hijab laws, some believe it would represent a major breakthrough for women’s rights in Iran.
The porn star’s visit drew attention around the world to the double standards that Iranian women must contend with on a daily basis. While the scandal has died down, the episode remains a vivid example of the inconsistencies and contradictions of morality policing under Iran’s Islamic government.
