Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Damn The Man, Free The Nipple
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 19, 2014
Modified Nov 20, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 19, 2014
Modified Nov 20, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
While here in anything goes New York City women are under no orders to wear shirts or bras or even bedazzled pasties to cover up their breasts, that isn't the case in 37 other states. Some states don't even allow breastfeeding in public, and according to the people behind a new IFC production called Free The Nipple, "In less tolerant places like Louisiana, a woman exposing her nipples can carry a sentence of up to three years in jail and a $2,500 fine." While that can't happen here, it doesn't mean that the NYPD, or even civilians, don't react to topless women on the streets. Shockingly, a "10 Hours Of Walking As A Topless Woman In NYC" hasn't spun off of that viral catcalling video, but Free The Nipple comes close to showing what it's like to bare one's breasts in public here.
"In New York City, in 1992 it became LEGAL for women to be topless in public, but the NYPD continued to arrest women, so we took to the streets with cameras and our cast to fight these Puritanical injustices first hand. By the end the production, Free The Nipple morphed into a 'real life' revolution that transcended the bounds of mere entertainment.
This spirited satire follows New York City activists Liv and With, who take their crusade for gender equality from the streets of the urban jungle to the courts. More than just a movie, Free the Nipple has launched an empowering real-life movement, inspiring women across the globe to take back their bodies."
They count Miley Cyrus and Lena Dunham amongst the women to have joined the movement.
The film will premiere on December 12th (both in theaters and VoD), and below you can see their trailer.
Tagged
free the nipple
movie
topless
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Brooklyn Public Library launches first ever craft library
Cardholders can borrow tools and kits.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Sep 9, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. ET
'The Real Housewives of New York City' is back, and so is Carole Radziwill
Nearly a decade after leaving 'Real Housewives of New York City,' Carole Radziwill is back as the grounding force for the second cast reboot for the long-running reality franchise.
By
Eddie Mouradian
Arts & Entertainment
'The Real Housewives of New York City' is back, and so is Carole Radziwill
Nearly a decade after leaving 'Real Housewives of New York City,' Carole Radziwill is back as the grounding force for the second cast reboot for the long-running reality franchise.
By
Eddie Mouradian
A lost archive of NYC 9/11 street art memorials comes back online
By
Hannah Frishberg
Some untold 9/11 stories are the strangest ones. They come to light in a new documentary.
By
Stephen Nessen
Women gather at Gloria Steinem’s Upper East Side home to lay flowers, pay respects
By
Catalina Gonella
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .