The worldwide obsession with celebrities has generated one of the most fascinating and feared parts of our culture today, the paparazzi. Paparazzi are photographers who constantly hunt celebrities, public figures and their families, trying to photograph them in candid, unflattering and, at times, compromising moments.
Most people who are a fan of a star love to see candid pictures of their celebrity. Clay Aiken has had many pictures taken of his every move. Recently, we have seen him at an airport, a family visit, grocery shopping, eating in a restaurant with his son and a visit to a business office. I would imagine many of those pictures have been saved on a lot of computers. But, as much as we love the pictures, are we then, part of the problem of paparazzi?
Paparazzi work alone or in teams and they rarely work for any one company. They make money by selling their photos and videos of well-known people to publications around the world. The most popular of the publications include The National Enquirer, The Globe, The Star, People, US Weekly, OK!, In Touch, Entertainment Tonight, The Insider, Access Hollywood, TMZ, and Hollywood.TV.
One photo or video clip will often be sold over and over to many different publications. This is very lucrative as, according to Hitwise, there are over 1,200 celebrity news sites in the U.S. The monetary rewards increase tremendously when the paparazzi are able to capture something unique regarding someone famous. The most unique shots of famous stars can make millions for the photographer. Unfortunately, in this case, unique means something that makes the celebrity look bad: a car accident, drinking too much, tripping and falling, looking overweight, getting angry, having a bad hair day, are all unique to the magazines. Since the payoff can be huge, paparazzi teams work 24/7 on many top celebrities hoping to become rich capturing the one “special” moment on film or video. It was reported that one paparazzo made $80,000 for eight seconds of tape when he caught on videotape a famous actor crashing his car.
It is important for the paparazzi to know the whereabouts of the celebrities so they try to get as many contacts as they can. They try to get a friend or assistant to help them out. They also have financial arrangements with doormen, waiters, bar tenders, valet attendants, and limo drivers who just might know the location of a celebrity.
Because of the monetary rewards, paparazzi compete with each other to get the very best, most unique photos. According to The Paparazzi Reform Initiative,
Teams of paparazzi in SUVs will surround a celebrity driving down the street or freeway to ensure no competing paparazzi in cars can pull up and get footage. Sometimes there are 30 cars chasing a celebrity, all of them ignoring stop lights and at times driving on the wrong side of the street as they all jockey to get the best position to get a photo. Out of their cars and on foot, they push and shove while blocking walkways in shopping areas, along sidewalks and in parking lots. No one is licensed. Anyone can be a “paparazzi”. It is like the gold rush or the Wild West before law and order arrived.
Paparazzi are not photo-journalists. They are not members of the disciplined profession that belongs to the field of journalism. A photo-journalist is just that, a journalist, who works for a legitimate news organization and takes photos of news-worthy events such as sporting events, political speeches, award shows, military conflicts, etc. These professionals have undergone background checks and have been issued credentials. They do not participate in chasing a celebrity down the street in the hope of getting a scandalous photo.
A huge change in the paparazzi industry is beginning to emerge. The paparazzi population is about to explode from hundreds or even thousands to millions. The Paparazzi Reform Initiative says:
Since almost everyone today is armed with a phone able to take photos and video, the tabloid industry is trying to turn us all – tourists, club-goers, shoppers, neighbors, taxi drivers, stewardesses, nurses, gardeners, nannies, etc. – into one massive ubiquitous paparazzi mob. Media outlets are encouraging viewers to send in their celebrity photos and websites have sprung up willing to act as photo brokers. In a recent 20/20 report, US WEEKLY reported receiving 10,000-15,000 photos overnight. In the end, the media wins by getting more photos for less cost.
It used to be that the tabloids had one standard for what they were willing to publish and the rest of the media had a higher standard. Due to the decrease in circulation numbers, mainstream magazines are now publishing questionable photos.
Did you know that there is a PAPARAZZI UNIVERSITY? It claims to teach anyone the “skill” of being a paparazzo. In one class assignment, 10 students, led by an “instructor” are sent out to find celebrities shopping along Rodeo Drive so they can photograph them.
Soon, celebrities will have no place they can be without a mob with cameras recording every moment.
It is basic human nature that when someone is doing something they shouldn’t, they try to justify their actions. These justifications are rampant in the paparazzi industry. They are so pervasive that most people have heard them and probably repeat them:
“Well, that’s the price of fame.”
“This celebrity is of interest to our audience.”
“I’m just doing my job.”
“The public want it.”
“The celebrities should know what they are getting into when they become famous.”
“I helped make them famous – they owe me.”
Every day, the courts are filled with similar justifications from arsonists, pedophiles, drug dealers and even the tobacco industry.
The real truth is that the paparazzi violate one of the basic human rights, the right to privacy. It cannot be imagined that anyone would want the same treatment for their wives, husbands, sons, daughters or even themselves.
According to The Paparazzi Reform Initiative, there is one way to prevent the paparazzi from hounding people who wish to be left alone. They believe that it is necessary to:
pass new legislation, or get legal precedent set, that grants all persons the legal right to how and where his or her likeness can be used. This restriction already exists in commercial law – the right to use someone’s likeness for commercial purposes must be granted by that individual. Nike could not use Kobe Bryant’s picture in a shoe commercial without his permission. If Nike failed to do this, Mr. Bryant could get recourse via the court system. This has long been established.
A law that allows people the right to choose how or where their likeness is used would solve the paparazzi problem. Those that wanted their photos in the tabloid press would grant permission for them to be used. Those who didn’t want it, would have that right as well.
Yes, we would miss the wonderful pictures of Clay, but we would also know that he can walk out of his house and visit the grocery store without being surrounded by rabid cameramen.
Very interesting article, and I agree that celebrities should have the right to privacy. This invasiveness needs to stop before too many people are hurt.
Musicfan,
Thank you for a very interesting, well-researched post about the paparazzi and celebrites. Who knew there was a Paparazzi U? As a former journalist, I am astounded with the way standards have been lowered within mainstream media as well.
Many thnx to the CANN staff and your readers who support all the Clay blogs!
Caro
This is a real hot topic for me and needs to move beyond photography and into printed word too. I don’t think it’s anyone’s freedom to invade on another citizen’s private life. I hope this passes before someone gets hurt. All celebrities deserve the right to their privacy (although, on a selfish note, I would miss seeing some of those pictures of Clay Aiken)
We know that as long as the paparazzi are interested in Clay Aiken, he is still a story and a compelling personality.
Its true that the paps are incredibly interested in Clay Aiken, but this blog says it all. They are destructive, and do not care who they hurt or who they destroy as long as they get their headline. It doesn’t have to be true…they just slant it the way they want it to read. Alex Baldwin has an interview in Playboy where he says when TMZ released the angry phone call with his daughter, he was suicidal. His opinion of Harvey Levin of TMZ says it all for me:
some others in the media, whom he has yet to forgive for the roles they played at the time of the controversy. He calls producer Harvey Levin of TMZ – which first made the voicemail public – “a human tumor, a graceless character who lives in that weird netherworld.”
Excellent article! What more can I say?
The excuse that its the price of fame sucks. Yes, being in the public eye is the price of fame, but the ugly paparazzi aren’t interested in any of the good things celebs do. That is never in the public eye. They only seek out and twist and embellish the slightest thing that a popular celeb does.
Thankfully, Clay doesn’t seem to have let it affect his life…he hates it, but stays above the fray. He knows who he is, he knows the good he does and nothing they say can change that.
I enjoyed reading this and also agree that Clay Aiken and other celebrities are intitled to their privacy. One horrific example of the papparazzi getting a bit overzealous and ending the life of the celebrity was Princess Di. That was a wonderful life wasted because of this kind of stuff going on. Something needs to be done for sure.
Excellent article. The paps have really gotten out of hand. It is such a lucrative business that it just gets worse and worse. Hopefully laws can be passed to protect these celebs.
Oh, I agree that the paps are destructive. They don’t believe that celebrities have any rights of privacy and there are no boundaries. Clay Aiken has tried to protect his family, especially his son, Parker. He knows the harm they can do.
Thanks CANN for the informative article… It really is sad, and I think people are caught…We love having pics of Clay..but on the other hand…it is an invasion of his privacy… Or any Entertainer’s privacy…
How frustrating it must be if someone just wants to go out to the store..and have to have a battle just to do that….No wonder they have people do this stuff for them…but then they lose their freedom..and that is without a doubt..the worst thing…
Hugs,
Judy
GREAT article! CANN, you’ve done a fantastic job in detailing the paparazzi destructiveness. I dearly hope this article reaches the people who can do something about it. The time has come to put a severe limit on not only the paparazzi, but also on the tabloids and the internet snakes who live off smearing the stars. Keep up the good work!
Who knew when we became Clay Aiken fans, some back in 2003, that we’d learn so much about the underbelly of the entertainment world…paparazzi, taboids, stalkers, stalker sites? Hopefully, some changes can be made.
This is a great and informative article.
Good job!
Excellent blog!!!
Great write-up about a troubling topic.
Very good article. I don’t have a problem with photos of Clay that are taken in public places. I do however have a problem with photos that are taken of him in private settings such as the get together at his relative’s home. I don’t think the fans should be circulating those types of photos publicly. I was uncomfortable with those pictures being on my website, but allowed them since they were already posted all over the other Clay sites.
A very well written article. Thanks.
Thanks for the article. It is a sad situation. Celebrities and their children deserve better.
Great article. Thanks CANN. I am hoping that legislation restricting the use of unauthorized photos will be considered and then passed quickly. We all would be happy to see the slum paps be put out of work.
Kudos to you for a well researched and well written article.
I think it’s way past time that there were laws protecting celebrities from the invasiveness of the paparazzi and tabloid meadia.
Just because they are movie and tv stars, singers, and other entertainers does not mean that the public should have carte blanche to their private lives.
Posters here are correct that something needs to change. People, even celebrities deserve to have a private life. In today’s world no one really cares about the other–especially in the world of gossip and hate blogs.
Thank you for this informative and well written article. It sheds light on a major problem of celebrity life that has become dangerous. I hope the law is passed to offer at least some protection to these celebrities. Great job!
Thank you for this excellent article, as much as hate the paparazzi they also keep the celebs in public eye, so it is a two edged sword.
Another great article on an important topic. I admit to looking for pictures on line, but I do hate to see celebrities surrounded by people looking for the worst!!
Amazing and wonderful that Clay has had lots of pictures taken, but none show him in a bad light!!
Thanks for the info!!
Wow, lots of information here. There has to be a way of protecting everyone from the hardcore paparazzi.
Thanks for the information and the good blog.
We appreciate musicfan123 for bringing this issue to the fans. We encourage everyone to watch the many videos of the paparazzi harassing celebrities at our website – http://www.paparazzi-reform.org – and spread the word. Time for Reform.
The Paparazzi Reform Initiative
Thank you for the link to your site. The video of Kate Moss being harassed by the paparazzi was very disturbing. Something really needs to be done about the harassment.