by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: October 09, 2009

The current environment for celebrities is so excessively invaded by out of control freelance "journalists" that it makes a person wonder why they would even go for such a lifestyle. While fame is fleeting for the vast majority of people who dominate the news and the supermarket tabloids, the dangers of being too famous have becoming more apparent since the death of Princess Diana, where aggressive paparazzi are suspected of being involved in the fatal car accident.

Recently, a young woman who is "famous for being famous" was injured in a vehicle accident that was caused by an overzealous paparazzi, who was briefly arrested, then allowed back on the streets with little consequences for engaging in reckless behavior. In another case, a paparazzi deliberately drove into another celebrity's car.

Death, car accidents, and injury should not be a consequence of fame.

So called "independent journalists" commit assault, trespassing, unlawful detention. In Los Angeles, where celebrities are obviously and heavily concentrated, the District Attorney's office is indicating that criminal acts will be prosecuted. Yet more celebrities have been arrested and prosecuted for scuffling with paparazzi than the reverse.

The media does no service by concealing the facts about the excessive behavior that is involved in getting a picture or a story. Insults, lies and allegations are hurled. People are knocked down, pushed out of the way, and hit in the head by microphones and cameras. Celebrity's children are photographed without permission or concern for their safety, photos are taken with long range lenses that invade homes, private events, and private property. Privately chartered helicopters engage in insanely hazardous moves to invade weddings, the airspace over homes, and other events that are held on private property. Drivers are blinded by high powered strobe lights.

The standard excuse for the growing mobs of greedy, uncredentialed, self appointed, independent "photojournalists" is that celebrities want and benefit from the publicity. This has been discussed with a biased and untruthful approach that favors the mob. The public has not gotten the full story that will is required for a more informed opinion on the matter. When a lie or false impression is repeated often enough, it comes to be regarded as the truth of the matter.

Celebrities appreciate publicity that enhances their careers, publicizes their causes, and records their major live events in a controlled and reasonable fashion. They spend incredible amounts of time making themselves available to the press, so there is no excuse for them to be stalked and hounded everywhere they go.

If the public wants pictures of celebrities coming out of stores and shops with no makeup, and wearing sweatsuits, then there are ways for them to be photographed without the out of control mob scenes that are increasingly occurring.

No one deserves to be grabbed, pushed, knocked down, forcibly detained by a mob, or to be blinded by high powered strobe lights, especially when they are trying to drive away from a location.

Celebrities deserve the same privacy that anyone is entitled to, whether in public or on private property. Their non celebrity families and children deserve their safety and privacy, and their neighbors deserve peace and quiet. Celebrities also deserve the same protection as any citizens from assault, trespassing, and other crimes committed by the increasing number of individuals who are getting into the "game", which pays between a few thousand and tens of thousands of dollars for one picture.

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