we got all night

"These disturbing pictures are evidence of just how deeply troubled fallen pop star Britney Spears has become."

That's the lead from the cover story on today's NY Daily News. It makes me sick.

No, Daily News, it's not evidence of how troubled she is, it's evidence of how troubled we are. As a country. The only other news on the cover was Bernie Williams, squished on the bottom of the cover page. This is what we've come to? The media, for the last week has focused more on a young mother's trouble with reality and the court battle over a baby and her overdosing prematurely deceased mother than anything of merit in the world. I don't even care to hear about the war, and all the depressing things there is. But hearing about celebrities and their trials and tribulations isn't any better of an alternative. It's just as depressing...... all the supposed glory and fame that they have and they are still in the same shape as we are.

I don't understand why people say that they (celebrities) deserve all the media attention. They're just trying to make a living. Anyone who has had to deal with an invasion of privacy, whether it was high school rumors or a nosy parent can only imagine the extent of their torment. As is it, I think artists give a lot of themselves away in their work. I know there's been many a time where I felt exposed during acting class. That's part of the thrill: what's being hidden, what's really there. Artists shouldn't have to give any more than that to anyone.

The other day I was editing Psych Online, since I need to focus on that before it gets ahead of me. Most of it's updated but the episode guide still needs to be updated, as does the survey forms. Anyway, I got to a page where Tracy wrote a small blurb about the lack of paparazzi pictures on the site. It made me happy, because I was going to update the site with a "no stalkerazzi" link. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who finds all this repulsive. Snaps for you, Tracy!

All this echoes of a bunch of pictures that surfaced last Christmas of Ewan McGregor leaving someplace with Eve, his wife. It was apparent he'd been Christmas shopping and with his schedule from Guys and Dolls and Scenes of a Sexual Nature, I'm sure he didn't have much time to do even that. I've always loved that Ewan expresses so much with his eyes. And the look in his face in those pictures, he looked so numb. His face was vacant like I'd assume someone would look when they're being violated (which in essence he was) and I remember just being emotionally distraught for him. The guy was just shopping. How is that newsworthy?

I've been against the paparazzi since Diana died, but today's headlines just made me go over the edge.

Just leave them the fck ALONE.

Once I find the Daily News's actual editorial email, they're getting a letter too.

Lia

ETA: Et tu, Entertainment Weekly?