DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Bieber, Baldwin & the Paparazzi
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30 Rocky!
That was the headline of New York’s Daily News yesterday:
OK. Anyone surprised re: the report that Alec Baldwin is in another altercation with the paparazzi? Apparently, this time, the photographer tried to snap Alec and his fiancee outside New York City Hall on Tuesday after getting their marriage license, which should be a happy moment, right?
Alec and the paparazzo have history.
But Justin Bieber?
On Tuesday, as well, the paparazzi battery case against Justin Bieber (filed almost a month ago) was sent from the Malibu Sheriff’s Department to the LA D.A. to decide if there is enough evidence to file charges. The photographer claims Justin roughed him up when he tried to get pictures of Justin and his girlfriend Selena after they left a movie in Calabassas. Witnesses say the paparazzi blocked Justin’s car with a van and wouldn’t move it, ensuring a photo op.
If we had a dollar for every celebrity – paparazzi clash we’ve heard in the news in LA, we’d have a boat load of cash. E! News recently ran an article, “Celebrities vs. Paparazzi Smackdowns – the Five Greatest Hits”, which included the infamous Britney Spears angry umbrella attack, Kanye West’s camera smash, and Sean Penn allegedly dangling a photographer he found hiding in his hotel off the 9th floor balcony.
With stories like this, folks might wonder, “What’s wrong with our celebrities?”
Though some thespians might need anger management courses, more likely, I’m wondering, “What’s wrong with our paparazzi?”
On Tuesday morning, before the Alec and Justin reports were released, I shared with you in my blog, Real Prosperity, a recent incident where we witnessed a celeb on her morning jog. As she rounded the corner to enter her driveway, a photographer jumped out the bushes and started snapping. The actress was soaked in sweat, hair matted from running and obviously not photo ready for a magazine cover. But that did not stop the shutter hound.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
The actress is thrown a little off-balance, realizes what’s happening and runs for her door.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
She can’t get in her house quickly enough. She’s annoyed and exasperated.
Snap. Snap. Snap.
Look, if she had originally reacted impulsively and started swinging… I’m not saying it’s right, but I would’ve understood.
First of all, she was startled. If somebody jumps out the bushes as you enter your yard, which is usually a safe place, isn’t your instinct to protect yourself? Secondly, how can you not get angry at someone who is treating you badly? That’s one of the reasons we even have the emotion of anger – to stop people from hurting us.
Good Anger
In counseling, when we encounter people who say, “I never get angry”, red flags start going up. Sirens start ringing. There is something gravely wrong if nothing angers a person. Child molestation should anger us. Rape, murder, abuse, humans harming other humans should trigger something on the inside that says, “Stop!”
That’s how I felt about the paparazzi harassing the celebrity running. I got angry and wanted to yell out my car window, “Hey, STOP!” I really couldn’t believe my eyes.
Jesus got angry.
JOHN 2: 13-17
When locals turned His Father’s house, i.e. temple in Jerusalem, into a marketplace selling oxen and sheep, He made a whip of cords, turned over tables, and drove out all the moneychangers and the animals. He straight did a HULK smash and started flipping stuff. And He’s God.
When Paul wrote to followers of Christ on how to live together in unity, he shared how to handle our anger. The scripture assumes that we will get angry.
EPHESIANS 4:26-27
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
In other words, don’t let anger turn into bitterness and rage. We are to handle what has made us angry as quickly as possible, preferably before the end of the day.
I do not advocate violence.
I’m not saying celebrities have a right to be angry and start swinging on photographers.
But I also don’t believe photographers should get away with the intrusive behavior that has become the norm here in the LaLa and around the world.
Princess Diana lost her life fleeing from paparazzi. Halle Berry reported that she was run off the road by a photographer trying to snap her picture when she was pregnant. What if she had lost her baby in that accident?
When did we stop caring for each other’s lives?
Or are we trying to just get the next “money shot” to sell to TMZ, the National Inquirer or whatever tabloid franchise that’s feeding our insatiable appetites for scandal and gossip?
Why do we even care what so-and-so’s baby is wearing or who such-and-such is dating, sleeping with, marrying or divorcing? My life is pretty full as it is. How about yours?
As candid and open-book as I am with my life as a minister and artist, I am extremely private with my personal life, and doggedly protective of my family.
I understand the desire to get a marriage license without being harassed i.e. Baldwin.
I get trying to see a film with your love before jetting off for more performances i.e. Bieber.
I understand wanting to go on vacation and not have a camera shoved in your face every few minutes. I get it. This is the time when we’re supposed to be able to rest and just be.
But we hear the stories: paparazzi in scuba gear, renting cabanas, climbing trees to snap celebs on vacation.
I’ll say this and I’m done:
We should not love and/or need money so badly that we encroach upon another’s safe space and/or put another’s life in danger.
Celebs are just people. How bout we let folks have some time with their loved ones and some sense of normalcy? Or at least be able to go for a healthy jog in the new neighborhood without worrying about having to be camera-ready?
When I heard of a gated-guarded neighborhood a few minutes from where I live with mandated, ridiculously massive square footage, house values no less than $15-20 million per property and $100,000 HOA dues, I thought, ‘Why would people pay that?’
Why?
Privacy. Peace. Freedom.
And no paparazzi are allowed.
The community was built with only 2 ways in and out, through a 24 hour guarded gate. When you pull up to the gate, a call is made to the owner you’re visiting. If that owner does not tell the guard you’re allowed, even if you’re another celebrity, you’re not getting in.
Children play outside in peace.
Dogs are walked or pushed in strollers at leisure.
Artists jog, bike, blade, whatever they want to do.
There are no reality show cameras.
No news crews.
No photographers.
What if everyone had to pay $20 million for peace?
Would that stop the madness?
Lord help us,
Naima
What do you think?
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