Article about celebrity children
I found an interesting article today, called “In Tot Pursuit”. It brings about the question as to the rights of celebrity children and why it’s so popular to invade their privacy by trailing around after them with cameras every time they’re out and about. Of course, the article mentions Brad Pitt as superdad.
They pointed out the popular trend among many high profile celebrities to do the same thing that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie did with their children - when Shiloh was born and when Pax was adopted, rather than trying to hide out, they chose a magazine they trusted to come in for a professional photo shoot and sold the pictures exclusively to them, then gave the money to charity. The article explains what fans have known all along, that it’s not about the celebrities exploiting their children, rather it’s about just getting the exclusive shots over with so that the “bounty” on the kid’s poor head drops down because then no one is desperately chasing the “first photos” bragging rights.
Some people say snide things like “they shouldn’t take their kids out to those places if they don’t want a media circus” and accuse the parents, such as Brad and Angelina of being opportunists and media whores. Yes, Michelle Endacott, an editor for New Idea makes an excellent point in the article:
“A lot of the really high profile celebs are having children and spending time with them at the beach or in parks. In the past, the kids were at home with the nanny. Now you see Brad (Pitt) and (his son) Maddox riding on a four-wheel motorbike. The readers love it. And we only use pictures taken in public places.”
That’s so true. The parents are actually BEING parents instead of just being big stars who are too busy to spend a moment with their own children. That’s why we see so many celeb kids out and about, because their parents are trying to do their best to do things with them instead of leaving them with the nanny 24/7. It’s a double-edged sword, isn’t it?
Also, and I think I quoted this in the recent past, the founder of celebrity-babies.com said this about the trend for people to be so fascinated with celebrity children:
“We can’t really identify with the lives celebrities lead and the luxuries they have. But what we can identify with is their parenting and their love for their children.”
True again, at least for me.
It always comes down to the same thing for me, because on the one hand, I hate that their privacy is invaded like that. I hate to think of children - Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, but other celebrity kids too, like Violet, Kingston, Suri, and others - having their names screamed by strangers while someone tries to jam a camera in their face for the money shot. On the other hand, I love to see the kids so much, because like the quote says, it’s really one of the few parts of celebrity life that I can relate to. Plus they’re so damn cute! I think it would be wonderful if a law could be passed to accommodate what Brad Pitt has said before, and what many other star parents have said as well, that photos can only be taken in public places (i.e., no shoot-through-the-fence-into-the-backyard shots), and only with a telephoto lens so that the photographers and fans get the nice pictures without the up-close and personal mayhem. And if that law is created, I would love to see it enforced with very heavy fines for those who disregard it.
Check out the whole article, it’s interesting. What do you think?
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POSTED IN: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Jolie-Pitt babies
15 opinions for Article about celebrity children
Mary Ann
Jan 5, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Sherry completely agree with everything you said. I also enjoy just seeing pictures of their children, but feel really bad about how frightening it must be for these kids. I am close to 70 and have been reading fan magazines for about 60 years, and you are so right when you say that this is so different than from the days when you never saw the stars doing “normal things” with their children. It would be the star and their child dressed to kill. My hat off to this new breed of stars that want to parent their children.
angela
Jan 5, 2008 at 10:26 pm
you’re right mary ann, i also love seeing the jolie - pitt kids pictures but also feels bad about the whole papz following around and screaming the kids names which can also be traumatic for the kids.
Neela
Jan 5, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Good and interesting post, Sherry.
What I find strange and slightly annoying (okay, maybe a smidgen of “a lot”) is that many who criticize the celebs for actually being out and about and spending time with their kids are not parents themselves, so, they can’t identify. Their biased view against some celebs make them more likely to ally themselves with any news that shoot down those famous names they dislike. I’ll admit that I’m not a parent either, but who am I really to judge??? I don’t know them.
Anyway, I know some of us do feel guilty for looking at pap pics of the family. The paps, in a way, are just meeting our demands. I guess it’s just human nature to be this interested in the lives of famous people and their families.
irma
Jan 5, 2008 at 11:33 pm
At this modern time, Brad & Ange are trying their best to be as normal as can be as parents, rearing their children the old fashion way, go to the museum, zoo, parks, movie theater & so on, as popular as him & Ange, expect the unexpected, they can’t be in a cocoon & hide their children from the outside world, they have to go out & explore outside the life of HW. I’ve seen a lot of their videos & the kids are well behaved. The kids are the reflections of your parents, for Brad & Ange they are doing a great job. As long as fans demands & buy magazines with the famous family or famous children of HW stars, papz will never go away specially when it comes to the Jolie-Pitt’s family, the papz makes a lot of money for their pictures. God bless the Jolie-Pitt’s. Goodnight. Thanks Sherry.
tenika
Jan 6, 2008 at 2:09 am
Oh No!! Am I Condoning The Actions Of The Papparazzi By Enjoying The Family Pics? I Never Thought Of It In This Way And Now I Feel Kind Of Bad
isacutie
Jan 6, 2008 at 3:07 am
After nearly a month without internet, I’m finally able to check out what’s been happening with my favorite family, and I’m glad there’s Sherry at pittwatch.com to turn to. Many thanks.
Re the celeb families going out more, I think it’s nice that they try to be as “normal” as possible, given the circumstances under which they live. I do love to see the photos, but I’ll gladly wait for officially released ones if it would mean less disturbance for the celebs’ families. Unfortunately, with the very invasive papparazzi these days, it’ll probably take a miracle, or a strictly enforced law, for them to be left alone.
Happy New Year to everyone. May 2008 bring blessings not only to the JPs but to everyone.
Bee
Jan 6, 2008 at 7:29 am
Hi Sherry thats an interresting article. I agree with you about the law. In some european countries there is a law that you can only snap public people, meaning the celebs itself, but not the family if its not a public event…
Criticers are always there, independent from what you are doing. I think they learn more if they go outside and see the world, see the people, so they can grow into strong personalities. The time with momy and dady has a deeper impact than the disturb of the paps; so they feel loved and know that they can rely on them. The alternative would be to stay at home like in a prison. If they would stay at home may they dont know what to do later when they are grown up and they will have nothing left then partying, shopping and exploiting themselfs like Paris or others. Of course this is a kind of lifestyle too but the world has more to offer ;) I think Angie and Brad do a good job… we will see the effects later…
gena
Jan 6, 2008 at 7:47 am
GOOD STORY, BUT THE REALITY IS BRAD AND ANGIE ARE PROBABLY THE BEST PARENTS THERE IS. THEY GIVE SAME SHARED ATTENTION TO ALL THEIR CHILDREN. CONSIDERING HOW BUSY THEY ARE. THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PAPPARAZI HAS TO MAKE SOME MONEY SO THEY NEVER REALLY BOTHER TO SHOVE THEM AWAY.JUST LIKE BRAD SAY’S THOSE THAT NEED HELPS CAN’T GET THE PUBLICITY THEY NEED SO HIM AND ANGIE GET THE PAPPARAZZI FOR THEM.
Mary Ann
Jan 6, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Gena is right, Brad has said many times that if he and Angie were not who they are people would not have an interest in helping others. His project in the 9th ward I guess is a good example. We donated because of Brad and Angie bringing our attention to the matter. But, in light of what is going on right now with Britney, there should be some type of law protecting these celeb’s from being followed constantly. Right now it appears to me that they are finding pleasure in the suffering that this young lady is going through. She needs help, before she completely goes off the deep end and hurts herself or others.
fox
Jan 6, 2008 at 9:50 pm
if brad and angie take their kids outside like the zoo, museum, and park some people would comment that they are exposing their kids too much (because of the overflowing photos of the papz) and when they let the kids stay at home (no photos at all) people will comment on how they don’t spend time with their kids. isn’t it crazy?
Neela
Jan 7, 2008 at 7:17 am
I hear you, fox. The JP’s can’t win. It’s annoying when some anti’s claim that the pics that we see of the family are photo ops. Heh, the JPs don’t need a photo op. They’re famous to the hilt already that they don’t need a photo op. Their fame is enough of an allure for the paps. I know to some the story about the Pitt clans pizza outing was really a non-story, but I actually prefer hearing such “non-stories” more so than seeing pics of the family. Those non-stories show that the JP’s are just like any other family.
BlessBrangelina
Jan 7, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Great article and commentary Sherry. Thanks for bring it here.
I agree with everyone, it just seems that the JP’s cannot win. But am glad they do not let these crazy “experts” affect their parenting decisions.
AF
Jan 8, 2008 at 2:08 am
I guess it’s a bit of a dilemna between our moral sense of respect for the privacy of others and our somewhat insatiable, yet innocent appetite for celebrity photos. However, celebrities are only celebrities because of their fans. In effect, the paparazzi is a part of that celebrity life. But like the rest of us, celebrities can choose to change careers if they find their “working conditions” (ie paparazzi) unbearable. I think it’s irresponsible when celebrities drive recklessly to avoid paparazzi; at this point, it is their choice & their own consequences. As for the children- children are tough. Celebritiy children also lead very privileged lives. They should be able to overcome the trauma of photographers. The paparazzi, I know, are not faultless. When they’re overtly abusive & their actions constitute an assault by law- they should be held accountable…. I think Brad & Angelina started a smart trend by selling 1st rights to Shiloh’s newborn pics for charity; note to critic : by definition, you are not “opportunistic nor a media whore” if your actions benefit others.
viva brangelina
Jan 8, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I agree 100% with you sherry. and also to the comments above. i’ll say no more, you guys said it all for me.
Jenna
May 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Yes, it is lovely that there are being parents, however, it is all selfish reasons is it not? It isn’t just the cameras in the face or the strangers screaming out their names — what about their safety? Do you want strangers knowing where you hang out with your kids? where they play? Things about them so they can get close to them and make the children feel like they know them? Knowing what they look like? Think kidnapping, rape, murder….does it actually have to happen to a child before people take the risk seriously?
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