WAPT is reporting that the controversial photos of Jackson Mayor Frank Melton with a bevy of bikini-clad girls are on the up and up.

The pictures were taken by professional photographer Daren Gray, of Atlanta. They show Jackson's mayor posing with three provocatively dressed women in front of his Chrysler 300. Gray said the pictures were taken over a year ago for a car magazine named Spare Dime. But he recently posted two of them to his Jackson Free Press Lounge List Web site, he said, by accident.

Melton told WAPT that the photos aren't as bad as they look.

"That was very innocent. I was having lunch at Peaches Restaurant on Farish Street and they were shooting a commercial across the street. I was so excited to have someone on Farish Street shooting a commercial and that was the extent of it," Melton said. "The dress was -- they were doing a commercial -- I guess that was all I can say. It was innocently done."

Previous Comments

ID

145440

Comment

Yes, they went up on Lounge List about two weeks ago, I think. I didn't get the impression it was accidental, but perhaps it was. Several people had told us they were real, including a former photographer of ours who says he was there. Funny that the photos caused all this hoopla two weeks after they showed up on LoungeList. Even our social network breaks news. ;-) Be sure you're signed up if you're not! http://www.loungelist.com

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2009-04-02T09:31:13-06:00

ID

145449

Comment

How can he pose with them when he wants to shut down the strip clubs, too? Either you're on the train or you're not! LOL

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2009-04-02T11:15:33-06:00

ID

145455

Comment

L.W.: He's hanging off the caboose. Oh, wait: I haven't seen a caboose in years. Never mind. :D

Author

Lady Havoc

Date

2009-04-02T11:43:30-06:00

ID

145459

Comment

Right, LH. This train just keeps going on forever, and ever, and ever...

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2009-04-02T11:45:36-06:00