Celebrities whether they like it or not open their lives up to the public eye when they become famous. However, that is not to say that their children should also face the same publicity. No child, even if their parents are famous should be followed by paparazzi, have flashing lights in their face, or pictures of them sold for money.
Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard created the “No Child Policy” that campaigns to stop news outlets from sharing, buying, or posting pictures of celebrities' kids without permission. Many celebrities are campaigning alongside Bell and Shepard to stop media outlets from using these photos.
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| Dan Shepard and Kristen Bell |
Effective in January of 2014, stricter penalties were put in place in California for paparazzi. But, this has no stopped them from hounding celebrity's children. State senator Kevin de Leon assures that they will work to protect every child from harassment no matter who their parents are.
Some media outlets such as Entertainment Tonight and Us Weekly have agreed with Bell’s terms and signed her policy. These companies say they now just have the extra step of getting the parent’s permission.
Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lawrence both refused interviews with Weekly magazines Life & Style, OK! and In Touch, and websites such as TMZ because the media outlets have not signed Bell’s policy. These sources continue to publish pictures of celebrities kids without consent and also refuse to comment on the matter.
In a world where social media and a strong online presence have caused children to be bullied and scrutinized posting a childs image without consent is completely wrong. Placing a child in the public eye because of their parent’s career choices is no excuse to expose their lives to the public.
Bell has said that while she loves her career she loves motherhood more and if something doesn’t change she wouldn’t hesitate to quit acting. Although the “No Child Policy” has garnered support from celebrities with children and even those without Bell has said more needs to be done.
Michelle Williams, most well know as Jen on Dawson’s Creek, thanked Bell for improving the situation.
In an Elle UK interview Williams says "Every month I send her a gushy, ‘You don’t know what you’ve done’ note." She continues, "Now my daughter and other kids aren’t scared to walk down the street anymore. It’s like a miracle."
Yet, there is still more to be done as paparazzi continue to photograph celebrity’s children. Last week Tina Knowles, Beyonce’s mother, got into a verbal battle with paparazzi as they surrounded her granddaughter Blue Ivy with cameras.
Like Blue Ivy, there is a certain amount of “fame” that surrounds Suri Cruise because of her parents being famous actors Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Since birth, cameras have chased Suri and media outlets have posted those images without permission. In Bell’s opinion, "Suri Cruise is not fictional. She's a real little girl... and it's just not fair.”
The bottom line with this issue is that these children have the same innocence as those who are not born to celebrities. They deserve the same privacy that every child does and should not be exposed through magazines and online sources because their parents are famous. While more celebrities are joining the cause action needs to be taken to stop these paparazzi from invading the lives of children. Legislation needs to be improved in California and that can only be done if this issue gains awareness.
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