Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the paparazzi photographer who was run over and killed yesterday on a Los Angeles freeway while attempting to get pics of Justin Bieber's white Ferrari. The photographer happened to be following the Ferrari when California Highway Patrol tagged it for speeding, so naturally he pulled over, hoping to get a better view of the traffic stop. But the CHP ordered him to return to his own car immediately. (Twice.)
Ironically, that's exactly what the paparazzo was doing when he was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle. And as it turned out, Bieber wasn't even in his Ferrari at the time.
Justin Bieber was, however, shocked to hear about the accident. He released the following statement:
"While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim. 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."
Hopefully Bieber's wish will come true. If nothing else, this very sad and senseless accident serves as just one more example of how our society's celebrity obsession is getting way out of hand. Of course we're guilty of overindulging in Hollywood gossip here at The Stir, too -- just because we're not actually involved in any of those high speed car chases doesn't mean we're innocent. So maybe it's time for all of us to give the concept of fame and boundaries and the true meaning of privacy some serious thought.
Do you think we're too obsessed with celebs as a society?
Image via iloveJB123/Flickr
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Comments 10
This is such a tragic story.
Yes, we're too obsessed with celebs. Sad. Pathetic. I'm going to go read something else now and stop being part of the problem. :(
Prayfully, this will teach these men a lesson. (I doubt it.)
too sad
very sad
I am so sorry for their loss. I do think the whole celebrity obsession is way out of hand and crazy.
I agree with cmjaz - I feel sorry for the woman who hit him who will have nightmares for the rest of her life because an idiot photographer was trying to make money off someone else. I feel sorry for the photographer's family who have lost a loved one. I do not feel sorry for the photographer who, at the very least, should have followed the police repeated instructions to go back to his car. What kind of a new law Bieber or anyone else thinks would stop this kind of stupidity is beyond me. The photographer was already (presumably) illegally parked, crossed to the middle of the street illegally (no cross walk) crossed to the middle of a street with a cement barrier in the middle (no crossing allowed), refused to obey direct orders from a police officer...... since the guy already broke at least 4 existing laws how would any one think yet another law would have prevented it. You cannot legislate against stupidity. If the photographer actually has any kind of estate from this nonsense I hope the driver who hit him sues his estate for her emotional trauma and that of her two kids who witnessed the accident.