Regulation of Paparazzi

Several celebrities visited Los Angeles City Hall last week to discuss the paparazzi. Specifically, the celebs would like the photogs to be regulated, official, taxed, and legitimized. Singer-songwriter John Mayer also proposed that paparazzi have credentials, marked cars, and a "law governing an acceptable filming distance from an unwilling subject to keep everybody safe and misbehavior accountable." Sounds fair, sounds logical, and at least one L.A. City Council member found the request an acceptable compromise. However, the LAPD Chief did not; he made some inappropriate comments about a few celebs before calling the issue of "waste of city time..."

When Brad Pitt makes a film and I pay to see it, that's where it ends. He made a product that I decided to purchase. It's a simple business transaction; just because I paid to see his movie does not mean I have the right to see photos of his family vacation. Just because I bought the '13 Going On 30' DVD, doesn't mean I have the right to expect photos of Jennifer Garner in the park with her daughter. I actually heard a reporter ask "Why doesn't she (Minnie Driver) just tell us who the father is?", as if it were owed information. Why does Ms. Driver HAVE to tell anyone anything about her personal life? Because I enjoyed 'Good Will Hunting', I have the right to know who impregnated her?

Time to put ourselves in some different shoes! Imagine, people feeling they have the right to know everything about you; they take photographs of you in your bikini... on a "bloat" day, no less, or how about the flattering shot of you taking a bite of that sandwich, taking your garbage out in your pajamas, and all to prove that you're just like the rest of us - sounds fun, huh?!

If a celebrity wants to share, that's great - but if they don't, why do we feel it's our right to know? The fact that they make millions of dollars is just not a good enough reason! They were smart/lucky enough to get into the right line of work. I know some celebs court the attention, but many do not. I also realize that celebs wouldn't not be celebs without some amount of coverage, but I think the line has been severely blurred and needs to be once again drawn in the sand. Otherwise, you and I both know what will happen - something tragic - and then, only then, will things change.
Okay, rant over.