Zanzibar’s owner is vowing to end free shows on his strip club’s roof after photos of scantily clad workers appeared online earlier this week.

“I’m trying to get my head around what to do,” said Allen Cooper, the tavern’s owner. “I basically thought it was an invasion of privacy.”

On Wednesday, Torontoist published 10 photographs of strippers taking breaks on the club’s rooftop in their work wear. The website attributed the images to Ryerson University librarian Brian Cameron, saying he had taken them from his office window at Ryerson’s library building, which overlooks Zanzibar.

Torontoist questioned whether Yonge St. development will disrupt Zanzibar employees’ break spot. The online reaction was swift, with many downtown residents writing on Twitter questioning why the website published the photographs. By Thursday night, the article had nearly 60,000 page views.

“We take it very seriously,” said Janet Mowat, Ryerson’s director of public affairs.

The university doesn’t have a specific policy that the situation falls under, she said. Mowat said she couldn’t disclose whether Cameron was being disciplined.

By Wednesday night Torontoist had pulled all but one of the photos, saying the website did not intend to violate privacy and apologizing if it had.

But bartender and server Norma-Jean Anderson said it’s too late, noting people have already seen the photos and other media outlets reprinted them.

“I was pretty mortified and I wasn’t even one of the ones in the photos,” said Anderson, who has worked at Zanzibar on and off for 20 years.

“People will think we’re being hypocritical … but there’s a difference between what you do on (and off) the clock,” she said.

Many workers try to keep their jobs secret from friends and family, Anderson added.

She said two of her co-workers quit their jobs and left in tears on Thursday morning, after the photos appeared online and in print. Another of her colleagues is a Ryerson student, she said.

“How does she go to the library now?” Anderson asked.

She wants the photographer to issue an apology.

Cooper, whose father started the business in the 1960s, said the club has never encountered such issues.

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He has put up signs inside the club and on the roof warning employees to cover up, he said. Cooper says he will also be investing in robes to leave by the door so employees can cover up.

Cameron could not be reached for comment.

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