LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

Jennifer Love Hewitt has commended Mischa Barton for the former “OC” star’s stand against recent paparazzi photographs the actress deemed “invasive.”

Barton recently stood up to an Australian snapper, branding him “invasive,” “rude” and “abrasive,” after he took photos of her as she opted for a topless sun tan. After the photos appeared in print and online, seemingly showing Barton with cellulite on her bottom, the actress’ rep claimed the photog doctored them. The Aussie snapper has denied the claims.

“I think it’s great,” Hewitt, who has also been subject to magazine and blog criticism for her bikini body, told Access of Barton’s stand. “I think it’s OK for them to take pictures and everything and I think it’s OK for us to defend ourselves and speak out against it. I think it’s really brave and really cool and that’s what makes us people.”

Hewitt herself was the subject of intense scrutiny after she was pictured frolicking in the Hawaiian surf in a two piece, in December. After several blogs made reference to her weight, she hit her own web site to comment.

“I’ve sat by in silence for a long time now about the way women’s bodies are constantly scrutinized,” Hewitt wrote. “To set the record straight, I’m not upset for me, but for all of the girls out there that are struggling with their body image.

“A size 2 is not fat,” she continued. “Nor will it ever be. And being a size 0 doesn’t make you beautiful.”

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