| Celebrities. Don't we just love them? We are a world | | | | celebrities are not like other people. They are |
| obsessed with famous people. When we see one of | | | | constantly in the public eye, either in movies, TV, |
| our favorite actors hosting an awards show, | | | | theater, radio, or whatever specialty they are |
| something we normally wouldn't even think of | | | | involved in. Many of us would argue that they have |
| wasting time viewing, we sit glued to our TV hanging | | | | no problem being paid $1 million for one TV episode, |
| on their every word and action, especially if we're | | | | but try taking one lousy photo of them and they go |
| watching a living legend. It's a moment we'll talk about | | | | crazy. Others would say that they are entitled to the |
| for years to come, especially if we happened to be | | | | same privacy as you or I, even though they may |
| in the audience and got to see our hero live. Talk | | | | have a job that puts them in the public eye. After all, |
| about being able to die happy. | | | | if you're a carpenter, nobody is following you around |
| On a recent episode of Boston Legal we saw a | | | | town trying to take your photo every five minutes. |
| celebrity shoot a reporter who was about to take a | | | | So, what's the answer? Maybe laws need to be |
| photo of her because he jumped out from behind a | | | | made. This is not suggesting that the laws be in |
| garbage can and she was startled and thought he | | | | favor of the celebrity or against. But some kind of |
| had a gun. She claims she shot in self defense. The | | | | law governing what are reasonable and unreasonable |
| question was, would the jury buy it? The | | | | actions in regard to how much "space" a celebrity |
| prosecutor's case was that it's okay for the celebrity | | | | should be given when not "working". Should they be |
| to get all the perks of being able to go into a fancy | | | | allowed to be approached in a supermarket when |
| restaurant and be seated even without a reservation, | | | | doing their weekly food shopping? Or should their be |
| among other things, but then they want to be a big | | | | laws stating that they can only be approached 15 |
| star and have their privacy too. The defense made | | | | minutes before or after coming off the "set" where |
| the case of other celebrities being assaulted, some | | | | they work, whether it be a TV station, radio station |
| killed even. He brought up John Lennon's murder as | | | | or movie set? |
| an example. His argument was that even celebrities | | | | Most likely laws like this will never be enacted or |
| have a right to some privacy. | | | | even if they are, enforced. That is just the way it is. |
| We're not going to try to answer the question of | | | | It has been like this since the beginning of celebrity |
| who's right and who's wrong. The jury decided in | | | | status. It has killed many in the past and most likely |
| favor of the celebrity. But that's just TV. We know | | | | will end up killing many more before this madness is |
| that real life can be quite different. The sad truth is, | | | | over. |
