Clooney blasts bounty-hunter paparazzi!

Have the paparazzi become a dangerous pack of celebrity bounty hunters?

George Clooney thinks so.

"I was at the Four Seasons earlier and Britney walked in and it was absolutely insane," Clooney said last night at the nearby restaurant Il Cielo. "The situation has gotten so much worse. There are so many outlets now that it's become a feeding frenzy. These guys are competing with each other and it's getting really dangerous."

The actor was catching up with his "Michael Clayton" co-stars Tilda Swinton and Tom Wilkinson, plus writer/director Tony Gilroy, at an intimate buzz-building bash for his Oscar-contending film.

But given Clooney's recent video footage scolding photogs for dangerous driving, his pal Julia Roberts being caught on videotape taking photogs to task for allegedly endangering children near a school, and the pack of paparazzi constantly on Britney Spears' tail, the talk turned to the increasingly dangerous celebrity news coverage.

"Look, I'm the son of a journalist and I will forever defend the right of the press to be there and take photos," Clooney stressed. "But these people are being paid so much that they are willing to commit crimes,  to break into your house, to cut you off in traffic, to run lights, to slam on the brakes in front of you, to get the money shot. It's creating bounty hunters."

He know that no one wants to hear a wealthy actor saying how rough his life is. "I am one and I don't want to hear it. But these people are blowing through lights, driving like maniacs and they're putting people's lives in jeopardy, including innocent bystanders who are not participating but become part of the game."

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So what's the solution? "You can't make restrictions on the press," says Clooney. "You can't screw with the First Amendment. So it comes down to enforcing traffic rules, not letting people stand in the middle of the street taking photos or cut people off or slam on their brakes in front of them."

"And, in fairness, there are more important things going on in the world, in this city, crimes that are much more dangerous."

His advice? Steer clear of Mulholland and Coldwater.

"That's a very dangerous intersection. No one forces you to do anything illegal, but even I've been in situations, surrounded by photographers, lights going off and I've gone, 'I'm gonna take the arrow.' "

Photo Credits: FilmMagic

Comments

[Sass]

I agree whole-heartedly. The only reason I read this particular article was because it was titled "Clooney blasts bounty-hunter paparazzi".

I am so sick of seeing Britany. Why do we all need to see a person in obvious distress? In regards to Ms. Roberts - RIGHT BY HER! Once again, why is it important for the public to see what her children look like? She's a mom who just so happens to make movies. That's all, folks.

Leave people SOME privacy and respect THAT amendment right as well. Freedom of the press can make people prisoners without having a healthy respect for others and some common courtesy.

[NotNewBehavior]

Does it surprise anyone that the 'paps' probably DID contribute to the death of Diana?

[drifter]

Free Press. Yes, but not at the expense of others lives- that is not free.
So anyone who publishes a photo should have to prove that the photo was not acquired at the expense of endangering another life, or obtained doing something illegal.

[paula]

The answer is not in wasting law enforcement's time, it's in stopping the Hollywood animal.

Hollywood is the one adding more and more "entertainment magazines" to their television line-ups. It's cheap entertainment just like reality shows. Who needs writers when stars and regular Americans are so entertaining?

I would like to see Hollywood work on more interesting and provocative programming. How about a new idea for once not just a remake of a Japanese film or the third installment of an already lame/overdone story or the sad life of someone who made too much money too young?

There are those of us who don't care what Hollywood is doing or wearing and would appreciate getting them out of our lives just as much as they would like the paparazzi out of theirs.

[Jeff]

If I was a celebrity with a good cash flow, I would turn the tables on the paparazzi... I would hire my own cameraman & such to stake out the paparazzi's homes, go through their trash, hound their families...start my own tabloid & print everything I find out or see... if they can exercise the freedom of the press, why shouldn't they ....

[Tom]

What does he mean by 'I'm gonna take the arrow.' "?

[Zooey]

For all the defamation of Los Angeles and Angelenos as being unsophisticated; as a fourth generation native I can tell you it is and always has been standard operating procedure NOT to bother the "famous" among us in any way. Additionally, we native "nobody's" treat celebrities, stars, et al just as one would any other fellow Angeleno. More than just the word "Papparazzi" is an import in this nonsense. Although I agree with his view point, perhaps Clooney is being a bit too fair minded. I believe laws should be passed that characterize such mercenary behavior as assault. Aren't there enough red carpet events to keep them all in photos?

[Dean Corso]

BRAVO! George. I witnessed a fiasco like this where the paparazzi completely caused a two-car accident trying to snap photos of a celebrity, whose car they caused to crash. I'm proud to say I rammed the paparazzi car and put two of them in the hospital (they were ticketed for obstructing traffic and reckless driving). The next time it will a roadkill party, since they don't seem to care about anyone but themselves, so paparazzi beware.

[Don B]

They do have the first amendment right to pursue stories. But then, where does this first amendment right end? It ends when one who invokes the first amendment to pursue their occupation endangers the lives of others or so grossly invades the privacy of others that their rights are violated. One cannot use rights given them under the constitution to violate the rights of others. I applaud Gov. Arnold when he signed into law a bill that allows one to hold these "bounty hunters" liable for the results of their actions. Even superstars deserve their right to privacy at home. Why do you think they buy such large houses with big fences and security systems. To keep the "bounty hunting" trash out. I would not blame these actors one bit if they took extrordinary action to protect their and their families' rights.

[Mick Goldberg]

I disagree - Mr Clooney's self righteous prostelytizing is offensive and misses the mark - the real problem is this culture's pubic fascination, an obsession with all things involving urine and a womans menses. I, and i'm sure many would agree, think that Mr Clooney should eat a human ballsac and only THEN is he fit to comment on society.

[CelebrityDeputy]

I've started a website that will turn the table on the paparzzi. People can post pictures, faces, information, and videos of offending paparazzi. PaparazziPolice.com