I'm going to start this post with a disclosure that I get absolutely nothing from writing this except for good karma.
I got to spend my afternoon on a conference call with Kristen Bell today. (Yes, the same Kristen Bell who is Veronica Mars and does Anna's voice in Frozen). The things I learned to day about the paparazzi makes me sick. As a mom, I can only stand behind what Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard and other celebrity parents (and even non-parents are trying to do.)
Recently, Jennifer Garner and Halle Berry helped get California Senate Bill 606 passed. This made it illegal to photograph a child because of their parent's employment in a manner that “seriously alarms, annoys, torments, or terrorizes” them. However, to prosecute something like this there has to be lots of documentation. As a mother, who is going to take a picture of our crying children instead of comforting them? That's is where Kristen and Dax's initiative comes in. They understand that this problem is two-fold. You have to regulate the paparazzi or as Kristen calls them – Pedorazzi. You also have to reach out to the consumers.
I know, I know – you are asking “what's the big deal?” Well, I was enlightened today to what happens behind the scenes to get that park picture of a celebrity with their kids. We see a celebrity mom pushing her kids on the swing. What we don't see are the 10 – 20 men (and women too) all trying to get that shot. They surround the celebrity and her children. They yell things at them. They push. They shove. (Heck, you all should remember a couple of years ago when Suri Cruise was a called a bitch when she didn't pose for the Pedorazzi. Somewhere it became okay to call toddlers names like bitch when you don't like what they do. Sigh.) They make their lives a living hell at times.
But, Lisa, they signed up for this. Yes, these celebrities did. However, their children did not. Look at your children. Do you want their picture posted all over the media without your permission? Do you want to be able to walk outside and take your kids to the park without being harrassed? Can you imagine what it is like to grow up like this? Kids are scared, and I don't blame them. Heck, my walk on the red carpet for the Frozen premiere was only a small glimpse of what celebrities deal with, and it was overwhelming.
Kristen believes in an informed consumer, and she wants you all to know what goes into taking paparazzi photos of children. If there wasn’t a demand for these photos from the public, this would go away which is why I'm happy to spread the word about what you as a consumer can do. I know I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes in those photos. I'm not going to ask who buys these magazine because even though I've never bought one, I have looked through them.
Entertainment media has devolved into chasing babies and children. Kristen will no longer speaks to outlets who post pictures of minors without consent. Thing is – she's got other celebrities to also agree. Yes, that means less press for their projects. However, she thinks it is worth it. Here are a few more celebrities that have also agreed to this:
Bradley Cooper
Halle Berry
Channing Tatum
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Scarlet Johanson
Michelle Williams
Katie Holmes
Nichole Ritchie
Ed Norton
Jason Bateman
Amy Adams
John Krasinski
Sophia Bush
Amy Pohler
Want to know what is already happening? Media outlets are listening! OMG Insider and ET have agreed to no longer use nonconsensual photos of children. If it's a grey area, they will blur the face.
What can you do as a consumer? Quit buying magazine that take nonconsensual photos of children and don't visit blogs that do the same. When the Pedorazzi can no longer sell those photos, they won't take them anymore. If you have a social media presence, tell these companies why you are no longer purchasing their products. Money is one of the few things that will speak to these companies. Less money will demand change. If it looks like a voyeuristic picture – it is. Now, if these celebrities bring their kids to the red carpet, she agrees they are fair game. However, a picture in the park, not so much. A picture of them putting their children in a car – no.
In a world where everyone is up in arms about the NSA spying on us, somewhere we forgot we have started spying on our celebrities. How is that okay? To quote Kristen, “If you print a picture of a 4 year old with Suri’s hidden drama written underneath, you are an asshole.” This is a real headline she saw. How pretty a celebrity's child is shouldn't be water cooler fodder either. Somewhere we forgot that these are real people and children, at that. I can only imagine some of the complexes these kids can get just because who their parents are and that the pedorazzi won't leave them alone.
Yes, this isn't world hunger. She knows that. However, as a parent, you are charged to watch out for your children. Kristen and Dax are parents first and celebrities second.
What it comes down to is that paparazzi are not news gathering. Children aren’t news and what they wear to the park isn’t news. Kristen's hangnails aren’t news. They hide behind 1st Amendment protections (and that bill I mentioned at beginning is only in California) which makes getting them to quit tough. This why she is reaching out to all the informed parents out there.
ET should be running an interview about this tonight with Kristen. I am only happy that I can hopefully be part of this change.
Will you be making changes to your media consumption? Will you not buy publications that don't have a nonconsensual minors in them? I know I will not read anything with nonconsensual minors.
I would definitely support a bill to support the privacy of children. It’s common sense to me.
I think it is great that some of the media are making the kids off limits. Can’t believe people can be so rude to children of those in the public eye.
I think it is terrible to stalk kids of stars.
LOL, I had to google who she was., I had never heard of her 🙂
No! I wouldn’t be a fan of that!
I love her stance on this…
YES! I agree completely. The kids should have a choice in their life about what they want to be or do just like any other child. They should be left alone to make their own path!
Thanks for this. I don’t follow celebrities or their children,so I never gave it much thought… but oh so right
That’s why we are trying to get the word out. I didn’t realize either.
I felt very enlightened after our call! I still need to pull my thoughts together on it. 🙂
Me too! I didn’t realize what went into those shots.
I would support this for sure.
I think it says something that the list of celebrities not supporting #pedorazzi media outlets make up a lot of my favorite actors?! 🙂
I think this bill is a necessity!
Wow! That is so cool!
First of all, I <3 Kristen Bell, and I totally agree – kids should not be stalked by photogs. It's disgusting.
I have seen some behind the scenes shots of paparazzi standing in front of movie vehicles to get a shot, climbing fences, standing outside doctors offices… it is just so awful..
wow,very interesting
I would have loved to listen in on that call. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us!
I’m going to listen to this, should be good!
Very cool!
Very interesting, and enlightening! Thanks for sharing!
I must be living under a rock, I’ve never heard of the pedorazzi nokidspolicy. Seriously, where have i been? Off to see what it is about.
The paparazzi is crazy out of control. There should be laws against it, esp in regards to children, in my opinion. I never buy those tabloids.
jeaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooooouussssssssssssssssss
This sounds just horrible! The poor kids who have to deal with this… you are right, they didn’t sign up for it.
Very interesting!!!
It is just terrible what the pedarazzi do and get away with. Glad to see the celebrities are joining together to put an end to this invasion of their personal lives.
I totally agree with any law to protect children -sad to think that someone thinks a picture is worth tormenting a child
I would totally support this bill too!
People the chase down and photograph others are idiots, just sayin’. I don’t see the point. What is the big deal?? I find it disgusting when they photograph the poor kids. They are kids for Pete’s Sake! Leave them alone. That’s my 2 cents. I support any law that protects kids!
Sounds so interesting! Good for her!
Im not surprised this happens. I mean I don’t agree with kids being stalked, but they should know that photogs want their pictures, and sometimes the kids just happen to be there.
They literally camp out if front of their house, drive erratically, and stalk them. I do have an issue with that.
That’s quite a list of people who won’t speak to those publications anymore! I never buy celebrity gossip magazines anyway, but definitely not ones with stories about their kids.
I never got into gossip or what the celebs are doing. I do not get the interest. I would be behind a bill like that.
Wow, very cool.
Wow, I had no idea! I really don’t like gossip overall!
She’s right. The kids should be left alone.
This is a great movement they have starting. Kids are kids and deserve to be treated as such. Not pushed, shoved, and stalked for photos.
what a fun opportunity!
This is interesting. I can see why celeb parents R doing this. It’s kinda like a catch 22. They live openly but, should b respected.
This is interesting. I can see why celeb parents R doing this. It’s kinda like a catch 22. They live openly but, should b respected.
I am glad that they are standing up for their kids!
Very cool
I think this is a fantastic move in the right direction. I like that the celebs are doing this even though it might cost them some press time. It needs to happen for the sake of those poor kids.
Very cool 🙂
She’s awesome and all BUT… her hubby… OMG I die 😉
YES! I consent. It has to be terrifying to those poor babies to go through all of that. That’s why I cannot understand the flip side of stars who peddle their babies for the media. Just enrages me. I’m all for it. As long as I can identify which outlets are misusing and abusing their paparazzi creds, I will avoid supporting them with my money.
Well, Kristen explained to us why that happens too. Basically, the photographers blackmail them. They’ll agree to not follow them around make their day a living hell if they just allow a couple of pictures. It’s totally a catch-22.
I totally support her and this cause!
Wow, this made me have so much more respect for Kristen! I won’t buy those magazines anymore either! 🙂
This is a tricky topic, I think kids should be off limit. Afterall their parents are the celebrities but I think sometimes celebrities like the attention and use their kids to get the attention.
I think it’s a noble battle she’s fighting and I wish her and all the celebrities supporting it the best of success. I know it can’t be an easy war to wage.
I think this is great that the celebrities are taking a stand for their kids. I can’t believe someone calling a toddler a name when she is completely innocent.
Really good tips and I believe you’re right. We tend to be judgmental when we see young girls wearing skimpy outfits, yet in some ways we do promote them by some of the things we do. Really good post!
Wow, I guess this is something that I”ve never thought about… but now that i read this, I do see kids pics in mag’s a LOT. I will stop buying those!