Do Celebrities Deserve Privacy?

I think that the media goes too far. There should be some privacy rights for celebrities. Politicians on the other hand are different because they are so crucial to our policies in this country. They should live lives above reproach and anything less is unacceptable. When they fail at this, it should be newsworthy.

If the celebrity is out trying to have a nice quiet dinner with friends or family or in any situation where they are not drawing attention to themselves, they should be left alone.

I'm always astounded the media thinks we're interested. There's nothing I hate more than to be watching a newscast and have the lead story be about a celebrity. Who cares about their messed up personal lives. Go work two jobs like the rest of us so we can afford to go to the movies or buy a CD and then maybe I'll care about their poor little tough life.

Everyone deserves a private life

I agree with Susan. Personally, the celebrities in my world are the troops. I would rather have them recognized any day over the silly Hollywood people.

I think you give it up to be a star! There has to be a down side to being that rich!

I dont give 2 sh*ts about celebrities, they just do a job, they entertain. I dont care to watch shows about them, I dont care to watch a show about their home or one of 10 homes they own, I dont care to see them on Larry King talking about their drug problems or depression... give me a break. I dont care.

In my opinion, is it boils down to this... they're just people too. They put their pants on, one leg at a time like we do. They're allowed to the same kind of life we are. And if they're going to be stupid like some of the rest of us are, well, they will deal with it just like we do.

While they have chosen the field in the public eye, they had to realize their privacy would be invaded, once a celebrity.

BUT....the media goes too far when they invade their every moment! While IN the public eye (concerts, stage, etc.), a celebrity should be open to the public. Once at home....the media, and the public, should honor their rights to have a private life!

Of course they do, just like all Americans do. The way they are stalked would be considered criminal if the average person was subjected to that. Of course it won't happen.

They are people too. However, some of them do stupid stunts just to get into the public eye. People like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears. They do ridiculous things for publicity, even negative publicity...in their eyes even the negative stuff gets them in the news.

So, for those things, I don't think they deserve privacy because they're asking for trouble and inviting it in.

I think before they become celebrities, they welcome the attention. When they get where they want to be and have $$ they get annoyed by the attention. It goes with the territory, but the does media go too far. So Brittany Spears wasn't wearing underwear, big deal! Half of America has gone commando for years! The good part of these stories is they can be cautionary tales. They may have all the money in the world but it doesn't necessarily mean they are happy. It's a business, the celebrities want the attention of photographers to promote their careers to make more money. They become a valuable commodity and then the photographers make more money taking photos. Payback can be a b**ch!

I agree with Heather. In their effort to beome superstars they desire to be in the public eye. Once they are famous they cry. I think it goes with the territory and if they didn't get the attention their fame would drop some and perhaps their monetary value as an actor, singer etc... would too.

On the other hand they deserve some privacy too. Like their children didn't sign up for all of the media attention (unless their Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie - LOL).

Yes the media goes too far.
I don't mind hearing about SOME celebrity news/gossip but there has to be a line.

I do think there is a line to be drawn. It's not fair that they're always in front of the camera no matter what. They deserve some privacy no matter what their life's chosen path is.

Yes

THEY ARE NO BETTER THEN ANYONE ELSE IN GOD'S EYES

I think that, if you chose a career that puts you in the spotlight, you need to expect a lack of privacy. I really get annoyed by the ones who court the press while they are "up and coming" and, once they become a big star, they complain about the intrusion. Well, DUH!, you invited it in at the beginning of your career. What are the paparazzi supposed to do? Once you become "big", stop? Who defines "making it big?" You, the studios, the press?

There are many celebs who don't court the press who have very successful careers. One who immediately comes to mind is Jodie Foster. Two time Oscar winner, avoids the spotlight, has 2 children who have *rarely* been photographed by the press.

If you don't want the coverage, then don't go out and court it. If you're in LA, don't go to The Ivy every night for dinner.

I used to live in Greenwich, CT, where MANY celebs own homes (Diana Ross, Regis Philbin, Ron Howard, Tommy Hilfiger, Mel Gibson, the former Shah's widow - the Empress of Iran, Alan Houston, Bobby Bonilla, David Cone, Montel Williams, Tom Seaver, Frank & Kathy Lee Gifford, etc.) All of them were free to walk down the street and not be approached because they didn't hold a press conference every time they stepped outside their doors.

I figure the ones who complain the loudest will eventually just go away. But, then again, maybe that's just what they are afraid of... fading away.

I have to agree with Mary Stewart to some extent......A lot of it is what folks seek (court)..............The media can certainly get out of hand, sometimes while standing in line @ the grocery store I see these outrageous tabloids and shake my head wondering why these publications are seeking to make a person out to be so horrible, where they exploit there troubles and pain............then it always hits me, it is the MONEY !!!! It sells and the bottom line is some of these celebrities really do like it or love it and would not know what to do without it, then there are those who want to simply work in the public eye but enjoy their private lives and I think everyone deserves the space to have a private personal life............dinners, outings etc with their families and close friends without the threat of cameras chasing them everywhere.............It is that thought that prevents me from spending the 3.99 on those tabloids, I do not want to help exploit these folks no more then I would want my secrets spread all over the magazine rack at the local super market!

I think they deserve privacy, and shouldn't be penalized for being famous. Unless it's Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Paris or Nicole Richie. But they don't really get penalized anyways.

I think they have their rights to have some privacy.

I think the media cares too much about these people. They are made into DEITIES by the media. There are more important things to be doing than covering celebrities. Just stop obsessing over them and we wont have to see them on TV. Celebrities pretty much are stars because of the media so the need the media. I think we should throw them on their asses and forget about them completely except in the actual movies and concerts.

Give them privacy and FORGET THEM. If they weren't soooo focused on all the damn time, they would not be so popular and soon maybe we would not see them getting so much money and getting unfair treatment.

F--- CELEBRITIES!!!

YES! Someone who agrees with me!!!!
I just wrote a huge post on this exact topic and I will be posting more as I think of it...
If we didnt PAY them they would be NOTHING!! We should start a revolution.

I think that celebrities deserve their privacy. So what.. they choose to be on our tv or movie screen as ACTORS or ACTRESSES. They are still people and therefore should be left alone. They choose to act and thats all that should be asked of them. They are put into the public eye and shunned for any flaw or mistake they make. How about parents start being better role models for their own kids and then they won't have to worry about what someone on the tv is doing.

Politicians on the other hand, I feel only deserve a certain amount of privacy. They are elected by the people, for the people so we should be able to know what is going on. What I don't agree with is when we have to find out who is sleeping with someone besides their spouse. That is personal and shouldn't be any one elses concern. If they are doing something illegal, then by all means, let the world know.

I have to agree with the ones who said "these people have chosen to be in the spotlight" and therefore their private lives are forfeit. If they didn't try to hide their children so much, then the photographers wouldn't get so much money for a picture of them. As for them breaking the law, personally IMO, the law should be tougher on them simply because they are public figures. These people are suppose to be "role models" for our youth and just because you're a celebrity doesn't mean you're above the law. But when I see a picture of "soandso" who didn't wear any makeup to go to the corner store or to the gym, or a celebrity that actually does eat real food, I think whoever it is that actually took that picture and whoever it is that's published it, is pretty damn desperate for their own publicity. So they're human, that's nice to see, shows the youths of today that even the "Brittany Spears/Madonnas/Angelinas of this world can screw up too and move on.

NO!
The deserve to have all of their money pooled together to buy each american their own homes and cars and pay off all of their bills and debt. CUZ THEY COULD!

YEH I AGREE WITH MARY.S

they became a celeb they knew what they were getting into. at the momment at school im debating this subject im the AGAINST SIDE i wanted to be on the other but then i looked into it ,no they dont deserve it well sometimes they do deserve privacy like if there dealing with problems yes they should but if there on the street they knew paps would be there so to bad i WE AY TO SEE THERE MOVIES CONCERTS ETC. SO WE SHOULD GET TO SEE THEM IN PICTURES AND TV ETC.

They deserve privacy. just because their jobs are public does not mean their *lives* should be.

Yes, celebrities deserve privacy at some point. There should be a sense of common decency and the photogs and gossip magazines and websites should draw the lines somewhere. Do we really need pictures of celebrity parents walking their kids to school or playing at the park? That's just going too far in my opinion.