Jennifer Lopez sells baby pictures: Tacky or savvy?

Psst. Wanna buy a baby? No, make it two. Reportedly, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony have sold exclusive first look photos of their twins to People magazine and OK! for $6 million. If true, that's tacky.

Sure, the paparazzi would have stalked the couple's every move until they got a shot of their kids -- so it makes sense to hand over the goods in return for some privacy. But if Lopez and Anthony don't give the money to charity, they may as well sell their twins at a yard sale in a few years. Pimping out your children for money is a shameless barter. Especially, when you make enough money to goldplate Bolivia. There's a great article in Advertising Age that breaks down the economics and which kids sell best on the covers.

Angelina Jolie-Pitt and her husband sold pictures of Shiloh to People for $4 million, but gave all of the proceeds away to good causes. They may be the only ones. Christina Aguilera sold her child's pictures for a reported $1.5 million; Nicole Richie received $1 million for shots of her baby. Down the road, tabloids will be clamoring for exclusive shots of the Hollywood baby brigade on its way. Jessica Alba, Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry will surely be offered cash for a cover shot.  Wouldn't it be great if all these rich mothers donated their money to organizations that help needy children?

Photo credits: stockphoto.com; Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Comments

[Not that it's right but....]

They are just playing the game ...It would be great for them to donate the money to charity. But saying that their actions are "tacky" might not encourage them to change their minds if they have already decided otherwise.

[Darlene J. Lopez]

I don't think there is anything wrong with celebrities selling personal information especially pertaining their children. We fail to look at the bigger picture: People magazine and OK will make more money than any other entertainment magazine when they share the pictures. Why shouldn't they?

I do agree that a large portion of the money should go to charity. However, their children would also benefit from the funds earned. I applaud nuclear families and if you have been keeping up with current events you would have known that it was not easy for them to conceive!

"A" list living comes with many perks but the headache of losing your privacy is one that I am sure can become overwhelming. Informing the public that pictures have already been sold at such a high price may decrease the invasion of oh-so deserved privacy that stalking paparazzi's would take away from.

By the way have we not learned by now that we should not believe everything we hear? I mean come on------Do we even know if it was really 6 million dollars? I hope that the money will benefit whomever deserves to benefit from it!
From one Lopez to another: Darlene J. Lopez

[Arturo von Vacano]

Hey, Gringa!
Don't talk about what you don't know!
Go goldplate your grandmother and leave Bolivia alone, OK?
As far as pimping goes, what is it that you do?
It's worse than pimping, right?
Shame on you.
Go and find yourself a decent job.

[gladys]

I 'm glad they sold the pics for 6m I know that the money will go for charity, just wait she will eventually say where the money will go, as she did with part of the profits of her tour concert.

[Executive]

They are not the only celebrity couple who have done that.
Britney Spears, Julia Roberts Brad and Angelina ...... Who cares, the paparazzi are worse for making celebrity lives a closeted nightmare. The public gets what they want, the tabloids get what they want, and the Moms have a professiona picture of their child circulating, instead of a flabbergasted dear in the headlights shot

[esb49]

The same old double standard; if Jennifer and Marc were white, then their decision would be savvy. Just like her old boyfriend saying that "the Bronx will always be part of her"; just like "Boston" will always be part of him. This is a muted form of prejudice and bigotry.

[cecily parseletti]

Arturo, you seem so self important. How do you do it all?
Gringo is a big word, I am impressed. You big man on campus you.
The subject matter is sad but yet another sign of our times. Bad taste is the bedrock for all eyes to gaze upon.
Pertela K

[erica87]

I dont think that think was tacky of them. I agree with esb49 that if they had have been white it would have been called saavy. Damn double standard. I wish them the best and more blessings

[g. mulleer]

erica87 and esb49, you two have got to be kidding! white celebs have sold their baby photos to magazines (a few names are even mentioned in this post). if any of them have every been called "savvy" please post a link to those articles.

[Ant]

i dont thin you should call it tacky, thats a bit harsh! they want the world/their fans the beautiful creation!

and jen and marc are always very very very generous to charities! so they prob would give money to some!

[OttawaValleyGuy]

It would be extremely tacky for Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony to give their children’s photo money to charity. It would also be tacky for them to hold onto the money. The money should be put in a trust investment for the 2 children and held until they reach a certain age, such as 21, or perhaps 30. That would be the savvy thing to do.

If the $6 million earned 5% per year it could grow to over $16 million by the time they are 21 years old. If it earned 10% per year it could grow to over $44 million. If the money was held until they reach age 30 the money could conceivably grow to over $100 million!

The children should be told where the money came from originally. It would be their choice to give some or all of the money to charity, or hold onto it. Oh yes, the charities will still need the money as much then as they do today!

That is way too much of a legacy to just give away without the children having a say. It’s amazing how many people are so keen to suggest that famous people should give their money, or their children’s money, to charity.

I’m not sure where that thought process comes from. By the same logic the media hounds should give all of the money they earn to charity. Why should they be able to make money selling a celebrity’s fame, image, or baby photos? Now, that’s tacky!

[ML]

They can sell their baby photos to whomever they wish. They should however, give all money received to a charity involving children. There are plenty of children out there that would appreciate a couple hot meals or warm clothes with that money!

[Helena DiFuentes]

Why is this is an "issue" now? Is it the first time? or is it becuase I TRUE latina is getting paid more than others? Give me a break.. if she had not gotten the offer then i touwld be a slap in the face for not being "famous" enough. Give me a break! If they are willing to pay then be it! Its up to them what they do w/ their money!

[Sarah]

There is another side to this whole issue. First of all I think It's tacky for a magazine to even offer $6 million for the Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony babies because they are not the most well-liked couple. She has had a succession of movie and music flops, and people are just not interested in her anymore.

On the other hand, Marc Anthony dumped his ex-wife and babies and married Jennifer 4 days later and was no type of father to the children he already has.

Paying $6 million is too much for any celebrity baby picture, but giving it to someone like Jennifer Lopez who's star is fading, and Marc Anthony who ran out on his children is a waste of money. People Magazine is going to be sorry they ever paid them that much money because they will not see a profit from the newsstands.

[Reyna Carrasco]

I am compelled to cease the moment to offer my most sincere congratulations to both Jennifer and Marc Anthony !
God bless their twins! I am sure they are beautiful because they were made of love!
I believe the couple should invest the money in their childrens future that way it is secure in the event that J-Lo decides to spend more than one year with them so that she can enjoy all of their toddler years! Arriba latinos! All the way from New York City Reyna Carrasco

[Jennifer]

Why shouldn't they sell the pictures? After the hell that they went through the past nine months with the stalker-azzi following them everywhere, they deserve to make some money off those jerks regardless of how much they have in the bank. Whether or not they donate it is their business and I don't think anyone should judge them for this. People turn their babies into models before they're 6 months old and make money off of them, how is that okay?

[mark berman]

FOR WHAT ITS WORTH.THESE TWINS ARE WHAT JENNIFER HAS BEEN LONGING FOR. BUT ITS A KNOWN FACT MARC ANTHONY HAD A VASECTOMY(WELL PUBLICIZED) AFTER HIS LAST CHILD (THANK GOD) SO WHO KNOWS WHAT THE TWINS WILL LOOK LIKE. WE'LL SEE!

[SGV]

Well you all just leave race or ethnicity out of it?! Geez.
-- signed, An Hispanic

BTW Mr. Berman, I also had a vasectomy about 23 years ago and was able to father a baby again just 3 months ago. It's called IVF. I'm sure Mrs. Lopez/Mr. Anthony could easily afford the $30,000 it costs.

[ForABoyorGirl.com]

First off, congratulations to the new parents! I just had twins 3 months ago by in vitro also. However you are able to get these little miracles into the world is a blessing, and these gifts should be cherished and appreciated.

I agree with Ant that this money should be put in a trust for the kids until they are 21. This is a saavy thing to do. They have their own millions, why not give their children their own financial independence right from the start. Can you imagine how much interest can accrue off of $6 million dollars. This is America people, and things will not be cheaper 2029 and the value of money will most suredly be lower. I say, Jennifer go ahead and do it!

[Kimberly]

I think its great that Jennifer had twins. Her and Marc got a double blessing from God. My best of luck to both in raising two gorgeouse babies. God bless you all four!!!!!!!!!!