Halle Berry Testifies In Favor Of Anti-Paparazzi Bill For Children’s Sake
Halle Berry was in attendance at the California capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday to testify in favor of a new bill that would limit the ability of paparazzi to takes photos of celebrities children. Berry has a young five-year-old daughter and also has her first son on the way.
Berry was in attendance to speak in favor of the anti-harassment bill that was proposed by Sen. Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, and she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind.
“My daughter doesn’t want to go to school because she knows ‘the men’ are watching for her,” she told the Assembly Committee on Public Safety, according to The Washington Post. “They jump out of the bushes and from behind cars and who knows where else, besieging these children just to get a photo.”
It’s normal for paparazzi to go above and beyond to get a quick photo of specific celebrities, but going after their children is whole different story. All actors with kids are photographed throughout their daily lives, but Halle Berry believes enough is enough and that the paparazzi have even kept her young daughter from sleeping at night.
“She asked, ‘Mommy, are they going to kill us?’ She didn’t get to sleep until 3 a.m. because she can’t get this out of her mind, and she doesn’t understand what just happened to her,” Berry added.
The new bill would be a huge step in the right direction for celebrities, but a complete fall out for photographers within the media. The proposal will change the definition of harassment to include photographing or recording a child without the permission of a legal guardian. It also adds that you may not take photos or recordings of a child by following the youngsters or their guardians, or by waiting around to take a quick picture.
The Washington Post report also noted that the new bill will increase the penalties involved for those who are convicted of such behavior. The bill has received plenty of support so far, but its also received some criticism in respects to gathering news in this digital day and age.
Do you believe Halle Berry’s courage to stand up will bring about more support of the anti-harassment bill?
[Image via Tom Sorensen]
