How Far is too Far for the Paparazzi?

Heath ledgers death creates media firestorm
Britney on average day with paparazzi

























These days many celebrities are speaking out against the paparazzi. The word paparazzi itself normally generates an eye roll in itself. It's talked about to death and sorry to disappoint but this blog is no exception.

I found it ironic the other day when E! Entertainment aired a t.v program the other day entitled "Britney Under Siege" which reported on the daily harassment Britney faces and its possible connection to her mental breakdown. They didn't talk about the fact that the pictures and videos captured by the paparazzi are aired almost continually on their nightly enterainment shows.
Many say celebrities ask for it, and that it comes with a territory. But there is a question of when America's celebrity obsession becomes a compulsion. We may say the paparazzi are going to far, but they are just reacting to America's desire for celebrity footage. So the question is are we going too far?

Celebrity news will always be popular because its mindless, you can look at a celebrity website and not have to use your brain once. It's pretty entertaining and very accessible. I look at celebrity websites and magazines. I would be the hypocrite of hypocrites if I said otherwise. I think that the paparazzi has the right to photograph celebrities as long as they don't endanger the celebrity and respect the person they are following. Sometimes though, lines are crossed.

On January 22, 2008 actor Heath Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment, what followed was a media firestorm unparrelled. Reports that were unchecked and flat out false were spun out by the media who was in a hurry to report new information. Hundreds of photographers waited for hours to get pictures of his body being wheeled out to the morgue, and TMZ was streaming a live video of the event as if it was a red carpet event. Heath's ex-girlfriend, Michelle Williams and daughter Matilda became a cash prize to photograph. And when they were they looked exactly as one would expect. Williams face was tired and swollen from crying, and her two year old daughter had no idea what was going on. This all begs the question- are we that morbid of a society? Can there be a balence of reporting and respect?

Apparently so. Anderson Cooper who heads the nightly newscast Anderson Cooper 360, made the conscious decision to not comment on Heath Ledger's death until hard facts emerged. This honored Heath's death and didn't exploit the death of a celebrity just because it was easy. Cooper did not get much attention for this decision but I applaud it here because I think that the media, and entertainment industry can demonstrate more restraint and respect.