Paparazzi invade personal lives

Paparazzi fascinations invade personal lives


Being fascinated with a celebrity, regardless of how the person acquired his or her fame, is not a new phenomenon.

People routinely fawn over actors, athletes and musicians and that’s fine.

Adoring a favorite musician is no less healthy than having a favorite brand of jeans or shoes. When a person seeks to know every possible fact and movement of their celebrity target, however, that is when things start to get weird.

The relationship between paparazzi and celebrities has always been one of intense conflict.

In 2004, the movie “Paparazzi,” starring Cole Hauser, depicted a celebrity father whose son was killed during a car accident involving incessant coverage by paparazzi. Hauser’s character eventually goes on a killing spree, ridding the world, in various ways, of all involved in his son’s murder.

It is truly surprising that more celebrities do not take this route.

In 2009, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an anti-paparazzi law that prohibits California paparazzi from photographing “personal or familial activity.” Penalties include a $50,000 fine and up to a year in jail.

An event that helped pass this law was a dispute between actress Jennifer Aniston and a paparazzo who photographed her wearing only panties. Aniston received $550,000 and an apology from the photographer involved at the end of the legal proceedings.

Schwarzenegger’s law might not be enough to protect celebrities from invasive paparazzi, mainly because the act only specifies that invasive photographs be prohibited. Video footage is not explicitly named.

The California law also does nothing to make defunct the TMZ television show or the E! Network show “Celebrities Uncensored” that has the sole focus of discussing celebrity gossip and the comings and going associated with said gossip.

People forget that celebrities are still human beings with lives just like anybody else. Most people, if the tables were turned, probably could not handle the unending barrage of cameras, voice recorders and irritating reporters that come with being a person of interest.

Because of the abrasive relationship between celebrities and paparazzi, many celebrities lash out physically, thereby perpetuating a need to cover their antics.

It is a vicious cycle that the celebrity cannot win. Just this year alone celebrities Justin Bieber, David Beckham, Lily Allen, Chris Martin and Russell Brand have all been involved in scuffles with photographers.

There is, however, a select group of celebrities who love the limelight and make use of their media coverage in the most controversial of ways.

Author Tucker Max offered the Planned Parenthood organization $500,000 if it would name an abortion clinic after him. Not surprisingly, it declined the offer. Max is famous for his tails of raucous debauchery while extremely drunk and making extremely inappropriate jokes about abortion and the Planned Parenthood organization as a whole.

Every time a celebrity makes the news by assaulting a member of the media when they violate their personal space, it is a reaffirmation that celebrities are real.

They have a right to privacy and the pursuit of happiness like everybody else in this country. Just because someone can survey some celebrity without their knowledge, it does not mean that they should.

By Alexander Mora, staff photographer

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