This disgusts me

[bohemia]

"These disturbing pictures are evidence of just how deeply troubled fallen pop star Britney Spears has become."

That's the lead from the cover story on today's NY Daily News. It makes me sick.

No, Daily News, it's not evidence of how troubled she is, it's evidence of how troubled we are. As a country. The only other news on the cover was Bernie Williams, squished on the bottom of the cover page. This is what we've come to? The media, for the last week has focused more on a young mother's trouble with reality and the court battle over a baby and her overdosing prematurely deceased mother than anything of merit in the world. I don't even care to hear about the war, and all the depressing things there is. But hearing about celebrities and their trials and tribulations isn't any better of an alternative. It's just as depressing...... all the supposed glory and fame that they have and they are still in the same shape as we are.

I don't understand why people say that they (celebrities) deserve all the media attention. They're just trying to make a living. Anyone who has had to deal with an invasion of privacy, whether it was high school rumors or a nosy parent can only imagine the extent of their torment. As is it, I think artists give a lot of themselves away in their work. I know there's been many a time where I felt exposed during acting class. That's part of the thrill: what's being hidden, what's really there. Artists shouldn't have to give any more than that to anyone.

The other day I was editing Psych Online, since I need to focus on that before it gets ahead of me. Most of it's updated but the episode guide still needs to be updated, as does the survey forms. Anyway, I got to a page where Tracy wrote a small blurb about the lack of paparazzi pictures on the site. It made me happy, because I was going to update the site with a "no stalkerazzi" link. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who finds all this repulsive. Snaps for you, Tracy!

All this echoes of a bunch of pictures that surfaced last Christmas of Ewan McGregor leaving someplace with Eve, his wife. It was apparent he'd been Christmas shopping and with his schedule from Guys and Dolls and Scenes of a Sexual Nature, I'm sure he didn't have much time to do even that. I've always loved that Ewan expresses so much with his eyes. And the look in his face in those pictures, he looked so numb. His face was vacant like I'd assume someone would look when they're being violated (which in essence he was) and I remember just being emotionally distraught for him. The guy was just shopping. How is that newsworthy?

I've been against the paparazzi since Diana died, but today's headlines just made me go over the edge.

Just leave them the fck ALONE.

Once I find the Daily News's actual editorial email, they're getting a letter too.

Lia

ETA: Et tu, Entertainment Weekly?

Comments

[wandersfound.livejournal.com]

I agree. I'm not a fan of paparazzi pictures. Although, I do think most of what Britney/Paris/all the other paparazzi favorite subjects do they do for attention, but the celebrities who are just trying to live their lives should be left alone. That's their job. It would be like following around an accountant or something and taking pictures of them when they went to get coffee or whatever the hell.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's true. A lot of the socialites just want the attention.

Coffee-run!Accountant would be an interesting take on the cover of the news, actually.

[vampira34.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you. It is sicking how our society seems to obsess over the lives of celebrities. There are so many other things the papers can report that are so much more important then what they post now.
The paparazzi just goes way to far just to get a picture. Can't they just let the celebrites live their lives in peace? Is it that hard. They want to go out and not be bothered. They derserve their privacy just like everyone else and all those paraazzi people are so steeping over the line. It is just sicking.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

Princess Diana

died

while they were in pursuit. You'd think they would've backed down then but they just got worse. And that's what disgusts me the most. They think they're owed those shots.

Yeah, and at times I wonder how much of society actually wants to hear about this stuff.

[enchanted-black.livejournal.com]

Our society does this because our daily lives appear mundane compared to theirs. I'm no fan of paparazzis or their methods, but ever since the Golden Age of Cinema, celebrities have had to deal with people hounding them. The price they pay for living a life of fame and glamour (supposedly) is their lives on the front page of a magazine. It's a horrible price to pay for the loss of privacy, but even us everyday citizens get our privacy violated. We may not end up on the cover of the paper or some tabloid magazine, but we get hounded also. We live in a society in which anything private is now public.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

That's exactly what I think. People get fired over what they write in their own blogs. Granted, that's online so they're looking for someone to read it, but still.

It all just sort of scares me, how we're rapidly hurtling towards

1984

.

[enchanted-black.livejournal.com]

You and me both.

[justspaz.livejournal.com]

It is horrible. She does obviously need help, but she should be able to get her life back in order without everyone knowing every little detail.

It's horrible because there are so many actors who despise the cameras following them all the time while they are just out with their family, but never complain that much. Then there are all the celebs who say how horrible the paparazzi are, yet they go around doing crazy shit that just screams 'I want attention (like Paris Hilton and her gang).

I don't know if you've heard about Craig Ferguson, and his refusal to talk about Britney and such. That's how everyone should be.

I just wish I could look somewhere without seeing Britney, or even Anna Nicole Smith. Just leave celebs alone, and maybe one day kids will actually understand what's going on in the world.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

Exactly.

Ugh, and they make it worse for everyone else!

I love Craig! I know, I admire him so much for that.

And maybe they'd actually grow up learning the things that are actually important!

[justspaz.livejournal.com]

They do. They make it seem like it's okay to photograph anyone. The thing is, I don't think they can be stopped. It's just such a major thing, celeb photographing.

I've never seen his show, but that made me respect him a lot. It's very easy to be a good person, and just decide not to talk about her, or people like her.

I know that I'm willing to go out there, and read papers and sites that other people my age won't, so that I can avoid the celebrity stuff, and actually learn about what's been going on.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, apparently they make a lot of money doing it.

You should watch! He's the best. You can tell he gets guests he genuinely cares to talk to. *loves Scotsmen*

I've turned such a blind eye to all the tabloids and such that last week Supernatural was in

Weekly World News

and I didn't even know where to find it because I never pay attention to the tabloids at all and which are sold where. Granted, that one is not celebrity crazy, but it's still a tabby!

[ewanspotter.livejournal.com]

Well, in the defense of EW, the only Anna stuff they did was a lovely piece by Stephen King and an obit. Considering all the other media outlets, it's rather mild and pretty tasteful.

[ewanspotter.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I forgot to mention the Ewan thing. You are so right. I really admire his battle against photos of his children. I also love how fansites have refused to use paparazzi photos of his girls.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Ewan's got so many refreshing qualities and that's totally one of them. He's such the non-Hollywood type and I love him forever for it. And the fans are just as amazing. If only they'd do the same for paparazzi pictures of

him

.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah I subscribe to them. I love the magazine, but I just got the new issue a few minutes after I pressed "post"... and the top headline over Keifer Sutherland is Britney and her haircut. So I was a bit frustrated.

[ewanspotter.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I finally got my issue. The photo is a little dumb, but at least the story isn't about *her* but her career.

[bohemu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's not so bad. I like the viewpoint EW takes most times.