Photos: BauerGriffinOnline.com
I guess there's been some talk out here in Los Angeles about something called "Britney's Law," which would be some legislation aimed at protecting celebrities from the swarms of paparazzi who follow them around on a daily basis, photographing their every move and often endangering the celebs, themselves and innocent passersby with their chases on and off the road.
LAPD Chief William Bratton has expressed his belief that such a law is unnecessary, saying, "What we need is Britney Spears to stay home instead of traipsing all over town. That would solve the problem. We don't need additional laws."
Also, as bad as Britney seems to have it, with the paps up in her face 24/7, rumors has it that lots of times, she's the one alerting the media to her whereabouts, in the hopes of getting media coverage. And with her essentially "sleeping with the enemy" at the moment, I can definitely see her having a love-hate relationship with the photogs and instigating at least some of this nonsense.
T-Bone says:
LAPD Chief William Bratton is dumber than a box of rocks. We live in the f*#king United States. Not only do we citizens have the right to free speech and the right to the pursuit of happiness, but we also have the right to walk around town if we'd like. Telling people not to go out of their homes, in order to solve a paparazzi issue is ridiculous! This law is a long time coming, Chief Bratton is just going to have to get used to it.
T-Bone says:
LAPD Chief William Bratton is dumber than a box of rocks. We live in the f*#king United States. Not only do we citizens have the right to free speech and the right to the pursuit of happiness, but we also have the right to walk around town if we'd like. Telling people not to go out of their homes, in order to solve a paparazzi issue is ridiculous! This law is a long time coming, Chief Bratton is just going to have to get used to it.
peachpie says:
no kidding, T-Bone. well said, dude.
Joya says:
Attaching Britney's name to it is a HUGE mistake. She does need to stop traipsing all over town (not that she shouldn't have the right to but she does seem to instigate riotous behavior) but the law itself is a good one. There are plenty of times we see shots of celebs going to the Dr or doing things with their families while swarmed by photogs and its dangerous and unnecessary.
Alek says:
How about Diana's Law.
Seriously with the photo lenses available today, it's ridiculous to be all up in people's faces and racing around town. Any law needs to not damage the ability of political photographers to do their job (e.g. McCain and his lobbyist girlfriends).
nona says:
bratton is an excellent police chief. and he's making a fucking point about adult behavior in public -- both the p.r.whores and their scumbag stalkers -- and how it's threatening to public safety.
Buzzkut says:
He's frustated with her worthless pursuit of fame and attention that might get innocent people killed with Britney's reckless thoughtless actions.. She needs to hear the blunt truth of how her stupidity and dangerous hobby harms and brings ill will upon herself, rather than think that some law and orders were made especially to protect her.. because someone might be spoiling her day..
Frida says:
How stupid can you get? I think this law would be good, Britney isn't the only celebrity that gets hassled by the paparazzi. Do they need to wait until there's an accident like Princess Diana's before a law is put in?!
Angietothemax says:
The thing with this is that when you make this into a law it has to be enforced and really there is not enough manpower for police to run to the rescue of a celebrity being hounded by the paps. It's just not feasible. And the whole "Britney's Law" is ridiculous she is no victim of the paps she courts them it's what she wanted unfortunately for her she can't turn it on and off. I say beef up security, start taking names of these paps, and start suing the companies they work for.
D- says:
Brit needs to stay home, thats fo' sure, but not to make life easier for the LAPD. Yes,she was colluding with the "swarm", but she's a sick woman. These guys would run over their grandmothers to get "the shot". "Good" pictures bring in thousands and thousands of dollars...because America seems to need some sort of substitute royalty.
Remember Princess Diana....
Yes, suing the "trash mags" may be a strategy for toning this drama down.
D- says:
Brit needs to stay home, thats fo' sure, but not to make life easier for the LAPD. Yes,she was colluding with the "swarm", but she's a sick woman. These guys would run over their grandmothers to get "the shot". "Good" pictures bring in thousands and thousands of dollars...because America seems to need some sort of substitute royalty.
Remember Princess Diana....
Yes, suing the "trash mags" may be a strategy for toning this drama down.
Smith says:
Okay I know this is being wishy-washy but I can see both sides of the issue. I do think Britney enjoys the attention she gets from the paps and does bring a lot of the attention on herself.
However, a lot of celebs who are bothered by the paps don't invite this kind of intrusion upon themselves and telling Britney or other celebs to "stay home" is ludicrous. So they should be prisoners in their own home?
The paps are becoming more and more aggressive, they are openly baiting celebs to react to insulting questions (see TMZ who go up to celebs and ask them the mos toffensive questions possible), and it's the paps who are running red lights, going into the middle of traffic to get shots, and breaking laws. But as already said, there is not enough manpower to enforce the laws already on the books.
Nothing will happen until there is a horrible accident, whether it is Britney or a pap getting into a serious car crash due to a pursuit, or one of the idiot paps who run out in the middle of the street getting hit by a car that couldn't stop in time.
Persistent Cat says:
Stop hiding behind the almight flag. What he's saying is her (and the others who court the paps) need to stop their behaviour because it's affecting others. Other celebrities don't have the kind of press that follow Britney or Paris. Why? Because they call ahead. So now he has to put resources (of which I'm sure there are none) on protecting these people who are a huge part of the problem. That's ridiculous.
So blah blah, they live in the United States, freedom freedom (ha, big lie) blah blah blah, but they still have a responsibility to society.
Persistent Cat says:
In the full quote, he goes on to mention that it isn't just Britney fuelling this behaviour.
T-Bone, I usually agree with your posts but not that one.
At a certain point, you have to take responsibility for your actions. What the LAPD are now facing is having to deal with the spectacles that Paris and Britney have a hand in creating. If this law passes then if it can be proven that Britney and Paris (and anyone else) are tipping off the paps, they should be charged and heavily fined.
Proud Canuck says:
I agree, Persistant cat, Britney is an adult, and needs to take responsibility for her own behaviour and her actions that affect others.
No one should have to stay in their homes to avoid harrassment, but I don't think the police force should waste it's resources protecting a woman who tips off the paparazzi and courts the attention. Let her experience the consequences of her poor choices, and if she still feels threatened - let her hire her OWN security force at her OWN expense... There are plenty of celebrities who are a whole lot more talented who manage to get away without the circus.
The lack of personal responsibility in this world today is sickening...
Jen#1 says:
It doesn't matter if she seeks attention all day long, 24 hours a day - 7 days a week. It doesn't matter what she wears, what she does or how much she likes the camera. The truth is everyone wants a piece of her and her pictures sell for a whole lot of money. Until the demand goes down, paparazzi will stalk. It's up to the courts to determine when stalking's gone too far. Princess Diana was the most photographed person in the world, not Britney. She may not have been "calling ahead" to let photographers know where she was but from all that I've read, she loved the attention. See what I'm getting at? Just because someone loves attention doesn't mean they deserve to be stalked and hounded. Just because someone loves an audience and desires to be out all the time doesn't mean they deserve dangerous press coverage.
yankee doodle says:
wwwwWAIT a minute! Blohhan, Parisite Hilton, The Hill's cast, Grody Jenner, Holie Jolie, Pittstain and 100 others do the same thing. Why are some here blaming Britney? Times have changed. Celebrities are being stalked and the internet makes it even worse. The laws need to change to protect everyone. Fight the real enemy!
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