Paparazzi and Celebrity children based off a PowerPoint over Ethics in Media.

Hollywood is known for it’s pop stars, celebrity directors, movie star actors and actresses. Glamourous life full of red carpets, award shows, and elite after parties have made day to day people eager to know more. However, there is a down side to the Hollywood lifestyle. The need for continuous attention of Hollywood celebrities has reached a disappointing low. Twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week there are dozens of photographers and camera people waiting to capture celebrities and those that are close to them. Innocent celebrity children are being harassed by paparazzi.

Celebrities Reaction

North West, daughter of Kanye and Kim Kardashian-West, was heading to her ballet class. Her parents were no were in site. She was being escorted by her Nanny. The paparazzi waited outside of her ballet class before and after she left. This video went viral on October 28, 2015. It showcased a three year old kindly asking for, “NO PICTURES.” Though she asked and was heard by the paparazzi, plenty of pictures were still taken. Now, there are numerous of cameras following North West to get another cute video or picture.

Celebrity children are just children at the end of the day. These children live lavish lives and are kin to some of the most fascinating people in the world. However, they didn’t sign up to be bombarded and harassed by paparazzi every day of their lives. Actor Dax Shepherd quoted in his open letter to the Huffington Post that most people ignore this issue because they are “rich people problems”. However, he recounts his experience of when his daughter was newly born and paparazzi found out his daughter’s information within an hour of the birth certificate being signed. He states that even now there’s always one to two cars parked outside of his house waiting to capture a photo of his child.

Stated by the California Senate Bill 606, It is illegal to photograph children due to their parents job with the intent to torment, annoy or terrorize.  The drastic harassment that these kids face at such a young age is immoral. Celebrities like Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner campaigned for this bill to pass. They would state at hearings how one can only imagine what it is like to constantly be watched and followed at such a young age.

                                  

 

What is even worse is that these kids are publically judged by adults with images and videos that were sold by the paparazzi. Imagine being judged in News Articles that are posted on covers of magazines and headlines for news websites, magazines and television shows. Majority of the celebrity kids photographed and filmed are not even of age to drive yet or fully able to talk. They are viewed by “every-day-people” as being “freak shows” and treated as circus animals.

 

                                                  

 

More on the Anti-Paparazzi Law

Passed on January 1, 2014, the State of California has tried to protect celebrity children. Celebrity Jennifer Garner was heavily involved in supporting the bill. She felt that celebrities chose the life of Fame not their children. Quoted by Fox News on her appearance at the California Legislature in 2013, “Literally everyday there are as many as 15 cars of photographers waiting outside our home,” she testified. “In the course of our ordinary day — trips to school, pediatrician, ballet, or the grocery store — paparazzi swarm. Large aggressive men swarm us causing a mob scene, yelling, jockeying for a position, crowding around the kids.”

The law states that it is illegal to photograph a child of a high profile figure in a manner that “seriously alarms, annoys, torments or terrorizes” children, fines to up to $10,000 could result in jail time.

Common Ground

Though the law was passed, famous children are still stalked and photographed.

However, there is a bit of decline with news sources supporting the bill. Celebrity news sources like People and Entertainment Tonight have publically acknowledged they are following the rules.

Social Media has helped make a true common ground. Celebrities are allowing fans to see different parts of their lives at their disposal. This allows paparazzi and news sources to take the pictures and videos with their permission.

This is a way for the family to be and feel respected. Also, it allows the paparazzi and news sources photos of the rich and famous.