Paparazzi 101
A paparazzo was injured while following Britney Spears on Monday in Beverly Hills. The pap, who was part of a caravan following the pop princess, was riding a motorcycle when he was struck by another paparazzo. There were initial reports that the injured pap was on his death bed, and from the video, it does indeed look like he was about to give up the ghost, but TMZ is now reporting the pap was released last night with minor injuries. It begs the question, what in the world is pap doing on a motorcycle in a caravan of cars? To begin with, the injured pap isn’t really a photographer! He’s what we call a spotter. He rides around looking for celebrities and calls other photographers when he finds them. Sure a motorcycle is small and agile but when you’re in the mix with professional paparazzi’s jockeying for position, being small is a bad thing.
We’re all part of the same game and none of us appreciate seeing things that shed a bad light on our business. It was a tough decision to post this video but we felt compelled to in order to keep other news outlets from pulling a CNN and sensationalizing the story. The spotter had only been working on Britney a week and should not have been following Britney to begin with. Paps on motorcycles can be extremely dangerous and from what I understand, the spotter had been cautioned a few times about his use of a motorcycle.
So let this be a lesson to all you aspiring paps, stay in school. Take pictures of models or sunsets. Don’t answer those Craig List ads promising excitement and big bucks because chances are you’ll wind up in a YouTube video being scraped off the asphalt.
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4 Replies to “Paparazzi 101”
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November 14th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Are you questioning if a Motorcyclist has the right to be on the road? What if he wasn’t a “pap”(smear) and just some regular Joe riding along? Would you insinuate that he had no right to be riding along during “your” pursuit of a picture?
There are so many things wrong here it is not even funny:
1) Motorcyclists have EVERY right to use the road; It is YOUR responsibility to be sure not to hit them.
2) “Pap” are not known to be safe and respectful of others: car, pedestrian or motorcycle; Instead, only constantly looking out for “their” own interests.
3) “Your” blatant disregard for the safety of others is often overlooked as just the “nature of the beast”; but be mindful, this post of yours will be disseminated amongst motorcyclists in the SoCal area, as well as the description and license number of your Black Hummer.
Respect is a two way street. When it’s “our” collective motorcycling asses on the line vs. your desire to take a picture, you can be damned sure WE will take all necessary measures to ensure our safety.
November 14th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
I’m not saying that at all. I love motorcycles and when I’m sitting in traffic, I wish nothing more than being on one to move safely through slow moving traffic. But on the other hand, I would not want to be on one in fast moving traffic where many cars were changing lanes and the chances of not being seen are immense. Especially, and I mean, ESPECIALLY not be driving on my motorcycle and talking on a cell phone at the same time. Which I’ve actually seen the motorcyclist in question do. I doubt even the most avid motorcycle rights advocate could argue the wisdom in that.
And that is not my black Hummer.
November 14th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
On that note. I had a motorcyclist give me the bird on the freeway because I was to close to the vehicle next to me and he could not squeeze through. I was told by law enforcement that it was illegal for motorcyclist to do such dangerous riding habits. I’ve been fortunate to be involved in only one accident (rear end fender bender)since having my license back in 91. I can say I have come to dozens of close calls on motorcycles sneaking up on your blind side. When I do see them I slightly move to give them more space to squeeze.
And to AnonActor. Remove that helmet, it’s suffocating your senses. As far as respect as a two way street. Why don’t you tell that to irresponsible motorcyclist using our public street as their private drag racing strip. As the saying goes, “there’s always one rotten apple in every barrel. As “One apple spoils the bunch”. Read it as it fits your needs. Keep your day job and stay on reading scripts.
November 15th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
[…] getting dangerous to photograph Britney Spears. If they’re not running each other over then Brit’s running them over! A photographer seems to have gotten his foot caught under […]