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Jennifer Garner, right, and Halle Berry, left, testify in the California Capitol in Sacramento. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli
Papa-paparazzi
A-List actresses urge California lawmakers to get tough on paparazzi
A new law would make taking a child’s picture without consent of a guardian illegal in the US state of California.
TWO HOLLYWOOD ACTRESSES, Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner, are urging California lawmakers to support legislation that would impose tougher penalties on paparazzi who harass celebrities and their children.
The stars testified yesterday before the Assembly Judiciary Committee on SB606, a bill that would change the definition of harassment to include photographing a child without the permission of a legal guardian.
It was Oscar-winner Berry’s second state Capitol appearance on the measure. Berry, who is pregnant, told lawmakers the constant presence of photographers has made her daughter scared to go to school.
Juno star Garner choked up describing how paparazzi aggressively follow her and her three children daily, describing a terrifying incident at her daughters preschool.
“Like the very man who threatened to cut the babies out of my belly, who was arrested waiting behind our daughter’s preschool standing among the throng of paparazzi,” Garner said.
Media organisations are concerned the bill from Democratic Senator Kevin de Leon of Los Angeles will interfere with news gathering.
SB606 passed and heads to the Appropriations Committee.
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