Celebrities and Paparazzi: The Most Inventive Ways Stars Handled the Press
Celebrities and paparazzi have a bizarre dynamic. Some celebrities got used to the blinding lights and the constant hounding, some have even reveled in the attention and have “scheduled” errands when they know paparazzi are around. After all, if no one is taking your pictures, are you even famous?
However, since celebrities are just like us (only more beautiful and financially stable) they also have days when they can’t be bothered to put on make-up or dress in more presentable clothing and wouldn’t want their photos splashed all over the internet. When they’re going through a breakup or divorce or their movie tanked, they will, of course, be in a sour mood and are understandably upset when someone shoves a camera in their face. Since they can’t all be confrontational with the paparazzi every time their personal space has been invaded, some celebrities have devised unique ways to deal with them.
Celebrities and Paparazzi Showdown
Wearing Disguises
Wearing disguises in public is an oldie but still a good way of hiding from paparazzi. Dustin Hoffman is the master of hiding behind stationary objects, Leonardo DiCaprio uses his accessories, while Justin Bieber wears different masks.
Hamming it Up for the Camera
One of the fun ways to mess with the paparazzi is by not letting them take serious photos of you, which is what Grant Gustin did. Fans loved The Flash actor’s silly photos and how he dealt with the paps following him while shooting. Gustin even tweeted about the photos, “impromptu photo shoot. hahaha these are so funny. Gotta have some fun in the mornin,” per Just Jared.
Wearing the Same Clothes for Six Months
Daniel Radcliffe, at the height of his popularity as Harry Potter, also had his first leading role in the West End in Equus. So, imagine the paparazzi’s interest in him. Radcliffe devised a plan that would make his photos unusable. He wore the same clothes for six months to make the paparazzi’s photos of him appear outdated.
He was not the first public figure to have done this to foil paparazzi’s plans. The late Princess Diana had used the same strategy, per Fandom Wire.
Highlighting Important Causes
Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, when they were still together, often used their influence and fame to raise awareness on important issues. Paparazzi have frequently photographed the ex-couple covering their faces with cards where they wrote the details about organizations and charities that support these causes.
Giving Them a Taste of Their Own Medicine
Cole Sprouse has come up with a different way to deal not only with the paparazzi but also with some fans who think they’re being slick. The Riverdale star uploaded their pictures to his second Instagram account @cameraduels to give them a taste of their own medicine. In an interview with Wonderland magazine, Sprouse mentioned how the satirical account started. “It started because I was pissed off. I try to approach a lot of the strange trappings of celebrity and the culture with comedy… The actions and feelings and vibes that people put off when they’re about to do something like that is so obvious and comical that it begs a duel.”
So, next time you see a photo of your favorite celebrity, remember how these stars have tried to reclaim their privacy and how sometimes they want to be left alone while trying to inject some degree of normalcy into their daily lives.
