Salon.com > Paparazzi

Amanda Knox saga reopens

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

British tabloid press, rejoice! -- The Amanda Knox saga has returned. Italy's highest appeal court has overturned the acquittals of now-25-year-old Knox and Raffaele Sollecito, 29, ordering a retrial in the case of the murder of British student Meredith Kercher and paving the way for a potential extradition battle between Italy and the U.S.

The appellate court's new ruling came after prosecutors argued that the court, which acquitted Knox and her former lover in 2011, had not conducted proceedings properly. According to the AP, "Italian law cannot compel Knox to return for the new trial, and her lawyer said she had no plans to do so. The appellate court hearing the new case could declare her in contempt of court but that carries no additional penalties."

Knox's original trial fueled a media frenzy, especially in Italy and Britain, with salacious accusations of student group sex gone murderously awry. The rumors, although headline gold, infected public perception and -- commentators noted -- the court proceedings. The foreign exchange student, who was studying in Italy and shared a Perugia apartment with Kercher, earned the epithet "Foxy Knoxy" from the ravenous paparazzi.

I hate myself for loving you, Alec Baldwin

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 19:42:00 +0000

Did you ever fall in love with someone based on who you wished he or she was instead of basing that infatuation on actual, real-life behavior? Let me be more specific: Alec Baldwin, why do you make it so hard for us to defend you, when all we wanna do is love you?

Baldwin, as the guy we want to believe in, is a little bit of perfection. In his career, he's gone from a heartbreakingly hot piece of Grade-A beefcake to Oscar-nominated leading man to iconic "Saturday Night Live" host to subversively brilliant, Emmy award-winning sitcom star -- all while championing the causes of liberal politics and animal rights that make our knees go weak. Frankly, if all he had going for him were the ridiculous blue eyes and his deadpan delivery of the phrase "Schweddy balls," he'd outrank roughly 80 percent of the planet on the coolness scale.

Chris Brown in car accident day before Grammy Awards

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:52:00 +0000

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Police in Beverly Hills say Chris Brown escaped injury after crashing his Porsche into a wall while being chased by paparazzi.

Lt. Lincoln Hoshino said the collision occurred around noon Saturday. Brown told police that he lost control of his black Porsche during the chase.

Hoshino said police will investigate the incident. He said he didn't know whether the paparazzi in the pursuing vehicles have been identified.

A call to Brown's lawyer was not immediately returned.

The crash came a day before the Grammy Awards, where Brown is up for best urban contemporary album.

Stars take a stand for privacy bill

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:24:00 +0000

When a paparazzo died while attempting to catch a shot of Justin Bieber's ferarri in Calif. last month, Bieber and other stars called for tighter restrictions around the rights of paparazzi and safety of celebrities. Now, a new bill championed by Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler aims to do just that--in Hawaii.

Tyler, who owns a home in Maui, will today testify in favor of a proposal dubbed "The Steven Tyler Act." His in-person testimony is accompanied by letters from stars like Britney Spears, the Osbournes and Neil Diamond, who positioned increased celebrity privacy as an economic benefit: "Providing a remedy to the often-egregious acts of the paparazzi is a very notable incentive to purchase property or vacation on the islands." The letters, which all had the same content, continued: "Not only would this help the local economy, but it would also help ensure the safety of the general public, which can be threatened by crowds of cameramen or dangerous high-speed car chases."

Justin Bieber calls for tough rules after paparazzo death

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:30:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The 29-year-old photographer had just snapped shots of Justin Bieber's exotic white Ferrari when he was struck and killed by a passing car — a death that has spurred renewed debate over dangers paparazzi can bring on themselves and the celebrities they chase.

The accident prompted some stars including the teen heartthrob himself on Wednesday to renew their calls for tougher laws to rein in their pursuers, though previous urgings have been stymied by First Amendment protections.

In a statement, Bieber said his prayers were with the photographer's family. Ironically, the singer wasn't even in the Ferrari on Tuesday.

"Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves," Bieber said in the statement released by Island Def Jam Music Group.

Authorities have withheld the name of the photographer, killed after being hit by a Toyota Highlander, pending notification of relatives.

Much of Hollywood was abuzz about the death, including Miley Cyrus, who sent several tweets critical of some of the actions of paparazzi and lamenting that the unfortunate accident was "bound to happen."

Dying to take a celebrity photo

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:26:00 +0000

In what immediately qualifies as the worst way to die of the new year thus far, a Los Angeles paparazzo was killed Tuesday while trying to obtain photographs … of Justin Bieber's car.

Bieber was reportedly not even in his white Ferrari when it was pulled over by California Highway Patrol for speeding — a friend of the singer was behind the wheel while Bieber was elsewhere. But the car – and Bieber's vehicular comings and goings – are familiar to local lensmen. In November, Judge Thomas Rubinson dismissed a reckless driving charge against photographer Paul Raef, who in July was involved in a high-speed freeway chase in pursuit of Bieber. At the time, Raef's frantic driving, at speeds over 80 mph, prompted several 911 calls. But Robinson ruled that a 2010 law meant to curtail that kind of potentially dangerous behavior, "in pursuit of photos for commercial gain," could conflict with legitimate First Amendment-protected news gathering.

Paparazzo killed just after photographing Justin Bieber’s Ferarri

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:22:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Police say a paparazzo was hit by a car and killed after taking photos of Justin Bieber's Ferrari sports car in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles police officer James Stoughton says the man died Tuesday evening at a hospital. Stoughton says Bieber was not in the car at the time.

Sgt. Rudy Lopez told the Los Angeles Times ( HTTP://LAT.MS/ZTTUCT ) that the pop star's friend was driving the car when it was pulled over for a traffic stop. It was parked on a busy street when the photographer arrived.

Police say the man was struck by a car as he returned to his own car.

Stoughton says no charges are expected against the motorist who hit the man.

A call to a Bieber publicist was not immediately returned.