Paparazzi: Friend or Foe?

[Sophia]

from AOL

Paparazzi: Friend or Foe?

As Lindsay Lohan, Cameron Diaz and others take aim at aggressive lensers, see how the stars manage a complicated relationship with photographers. By Emily Fromm

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LINDSAY LOHAN
After a paparazzo struck the Herbie: Fully Loaded star's Mercedes in L.A. in May, police arrested photographer Galo Ramirez, 24, on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. Lohan, who police said suffered cuts and bruises, told the Associated Press: "I was so shaken up, but I was still nice 'cause I was like, 'I understand it's your job. But you don't have to ram into me next time. I'll give you a picture.' "

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CAMERON DIAZ & JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Lensmen Saul Lazo and Jose Gonzalez snapped this photo during a November scuffle with the couple outside a Hollywood hotel, and later sued the stars for assault and battery (Diaz and Timberlake claimed they acted in self-defense). Although the suit was settled out of court this month, Diaz told The New York Times, "In the last few years, it's gotten to the point where you literally cannot walk outside your front gate without being literally attacked."

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JESSICA SIMPSON
Not all encounters between stars and paparazzi are antagonistic: Simpson and pal CaCee Cobb were glad the snappers were around last year when the singer's Mercedes ran out of gas outside Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. The photographers pushed her car to a nearby gas station, where she refueled and then posed for pictures (she even reportedly signed the gas can for one lucky shooter).

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BRAD PITT
The Mr. & Mrs. Smith star (reaching out to a fallen photog in Santa Monica on June 6) told Diane Sawyer earlier this month: "It's an amazing fact, the bounty that's on my head and the lengths that these people go to get these shots. And the amount of money that they're paying for these shots." Now he wants the paparazzi to follow him on humanitarian missions. "I can't get out of the press," he says. "These people (in Africa) can't get in the press."

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SEAL & HEIDI KLUM
As the paparazzi follow stars in their family life, though, it takes a delicate balance from both sides of the shutter. On June 9, after being photographed lunching in New York City with his pregnant wife, Heidi Klum, and her 1-year-old daughter, Leni, Seal lashed out at cameraman Santiago Baez, who reportedly bumped into supermodel Klum. But Baez told the New York Daily News, "I was tripped."

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NICOLE KIDMAN
The Bewitched star – getting a hand from a helpful photographer at the MTV Movie Awards on June 4 in L.A. – says family gives her an incentive to put up with shutterbugs. "I've had things with paparazzi," the mom of Isabella, 12, and Connor, 10, admits. "(But) I live my life, I really do. I think that's one of the great gifts that children give you ... they don't allow you to get into a state of reclusiveness."

[Sophia]

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REESE WITHERSPOON
The actress (in Santa Monica in May) has taken to videotaping paparazzi since an April incident in which photographers allegedly surrounded her at a gym, followed her home and then blocked the entrance to her house. She later filed a false-imprisonment complaint. "There seems to be no repercussions for the behavior," Witherspoon told the New York Times. "It's starting to feel chaotic and lawless."

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JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT
After photogs helped out when her car ran out of gas on June 10 in L.A., Hewitt told Access Hollywood, "Paparazzi should not be lumped into the group of these monsters who treat people badly. ... I've met lots of really nice ones who are lovely people." Still, she admits, "I think a law to protect celebrities from the ones that are not so good may not be a bad idea."

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PRINCE HARRY
On his way out of a London nightclub last year, the rowdy royal shoved a photographer, leaving the snapper with a bloody lip. "He burst out of the car and lunged toward me as I was still taking pictures," Chris Uncle told London's Evening Standard. "He lashed out and then deliberately pushed my camera into my face." A palace spokesman said Harry reacted after a camera hit him in the nose.

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BRITNEY SPEARS
When the pop diva fights the paparazzi, her weapon of choice is often a beverage. Last year, just a week after the singer and her pals tossed milkshakes at photographers near her hometown of Kentwood, La., she hurled soda at lensmen in Malibu. "Britney just lost it," said a witness, although her new husband, Kevin Federline, "found the incident hilarious."

[lawyerlee]

I really couldn't believe they crashed into Lindsay like that. That shit is ridiculous. Fine, take their pictures. But be reasonable, ya know?!

[Sophia]

I really couldn't believe they crashed into Lindsay like that. That shit is ridiculous. Fine, take their pictures. But be reasonable, ya know?!

ITA--that was freaking crazy! And scary.

[Heidi9771]

The paparazzi are very greedy...it is how they make a living...I was watching some documentary recently where it interviewed a few people who did this for a living...they all compete with each other...a photo can become old in a matter of minutes if some paparazzi gets to the publisher first. The most embarrassing the photo of the celeb, the better.

[oceaneast]

I think their both friend or foe and the title depends on the photographer.

[jennylou]

What's up with actresses running out of gas? Can't they see the needle on the E?

[dionysia]

I'll refrain from making jokes about actresses and needles or E. ;)

I agree that it really depends on the photog. Though my guess is that the really aggressive guys are the ones who probably get the best shots. Sad, but true.

Of course, if the audience didn't scream for it, the demand would be less.

Di

[maggieb]

What's up with actresses running out of gas? Can't they see the needle on the E?
I was just about to post the same thing!

[julietchicago]

I think the a lot of the paparazzi are out of control! I could NEVER do what they do, I would feel so guilty invading a person's privacy. I know they are celebrities, and yeah..what do they expect, but they are still human beings!

If I were a celeb, and a paparazzi pissed me off, I would go Kung Foo on them. How annoying that you can't even go to frickin Subway without getting your pic taken. I also feel bad for the celebs w/ kids. Their own kids, their babies, have their pics plastered on the cover of magazines...ugh. :rolleyes:

[Holls]

What's up with actresses running out of gas? Can't they see the needle on the E?

I can't make fun of the gas free girls... I've done this! OOPS! It happens... they just got caught on film for all of america to see!

[Rose]

I think a line is being crossed these days. Celebs need paparazzi if they want their picture taken and want to be seen, but the paparazzi has been going too far lately.

[maplekitty]

Whenever I see pics of celebs *surrounded* by papz I feel very sorry for them! I think red carpet, movie premieres, award shows and anything business related is fair game. But once they step the line into their personal and private life that is not fair. And you cna't give the excuse "oh well they ask for it, because they are celebrities". Being photographed with a zoom lense through the window of your home is not fair game; being photographed walking your kids to school is not fair game, or grocery shopping, or while driving! These papz are dangerous and get way too in their face. Good on Brit for throwing her drinks at them, I would too. Way to go Seal for protecting your pregnant wife, I'd expect Curt to do the same thing!
It's disgusting! :mad:

[jimmysgirl424]

Has anyone seen the movie titled "Paparazzi"??? DH and I just saw it recently and it definitely gave us perspective!! Plus...really good movie!! :D

[sheartm7]

jimmysgirl424, I loved that movie. And Cole Hauser is GORGEOUS. ;)

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[wendalah]

RE: The empty tank--the only thing I can think of is maybe they DO see they are running on empty, but are freaked out about pulling into a gas station (do any gas stations do full service anymore?) and try to chance making it home on fumes.