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Subscribe to RSSPop superstar Justin Bieber called for a crackdown on paparazzi Wednesday after a photographer was killed as he tried to shoot pictures of Bieber's white Ferrari in Los Angeles — pictures that a veteran photographer said probably would have been worth no more than $100.
Gene Blevins / Reuters
Los Angeles police look over the car that struck and killed a celebrity photographer who was trying to take photographs of a Ferrari registered to pop star Justin Bieber on Jan. 1.
The photographer, a man in his late 20s whom police wouldn't identify until they can notify his next of kin, was pronounced dead at UCLA Medical Center shortly after he was run over by a passing motorist about 5:30 p.m. local time Tuesday, police said.
Authorities confirmed that Bieber, 18, wasn't in the Ferrari. It was being driven by a friend, whom they wouldn't identify, and it wasn't involved in the accident, police said.
David Allocca, who's photographed celebrities for many years, told NBC News that even if Bieber had been in the car, any shot the man took would likely have been worth little.
"A plain photo of Bieber in his car? Probably around $100, not more than $500," said Allocca, who's photographed Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra, Nicole Kidman and both Presidents Bush in a 30-year career. "I can guarantee that."
The incident took place after a California Highway Patrol officer flagged the Ferrari for speeding on the northbound lanes of Interstate 405, said Madeline Nightingale, watch commander of the Los Angeles Police Department's West Traffic Bureau. The car then exited at Sepulveda Boulevard and Getty Center Drive, she told NBC News.
During the traffic stop, the photographer crossed the busy Sepulveda thoroughfare, which runs parallel to the 405, and tried to shoot photos of the vehicle's occupants from a perch on the narrow divider, she said.
The Highway Patrol officer on the scene repeatedly warned the man that his position was dangerous, she said. The man was then struck by a car traveling southbound on Sepulveda, Nightingale said.
No charges were expected to be filed against the motorist, who stopped and tried to administer assistance, Nightingale told NBC News. The driver was a woman with two young children in the vehicle, Nightingale said.
Police in Los Angeles are investigating the death of a photographer who was hit by a car while trying to take pictures of a white Ferrari owned by pop star Justin Bieber. TODAY's Willie Geist reports.
Thibault Mauvilain, a celebrity photographer who went to the scene of Tuesday's accident, told reporters that he knew the photographer who was killed.
"He always played by the rules. I'm not aware of him doing anything illegal," Mauvilain said, according to NBC 4 of Los Angeles.
NBC Los Angeles: Man killed attempting to photograph Justin Bieber's Ferrari
"Some people will say he's just another crazy paparazzo trying to make the money. Actually, he was not a paparazzo. He was just another kid from New Mexico."
'Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation'
In a statement Wednesday, Bieber said: "While I was not present nor directly involved with this tragic accident, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim."
DCNYRE2013 - Getty Images
Justin Bieber wasn't in the car at the time of Tuesday's incident, police said.
He added: "Hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation and whatever other necessary steps to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders and the photographers themselves."
Justin Bieber tosses water bottle at Miami paparazzi
In fact, California has such a law. In 2010, the state cracked down on paparazzi, adding extra penalties for photographers who drive dangerously in pursuit of pictures they intend to sell.
But in November — in a case also involving a photographer who was hoping to get pictures of Bieber at a traffic stop — a Superior Court judge refused to apply it, saying it was unconstitutional.
Los Angeles City Council member Dennis Zine — who witnessed a previous paparazzi pursuit of Bieber in July, which ended with a photographer's being struck by a motorist — called on lawmakers Wednesday to give the law even more teeth.
"Unfortunately, the State law that passed in 2010 was not successful in a recent court case, so I would urge our State legislators to revisit the statute and make amendments in order to strengthen it and make it more effective," Zine, a Los Angeles reserve police officer, said in a statement.
The behavior of celebrity photographers has been widely denounced ever since 1997, when Princess Diana died in a French auto accident that was initially blamed on pursuing photographers. The wreck was subsequently blamed on Diana's driver.
The market value for many celebrity shots has fallen in recent years, Allocca said, and now it takes a "great photo" to earn big money.
Justin Bieber is the most Googled person on Earth. The pop star started as a viral sensation. He and his manager, Scooter Braun, discussed Bieber's journey and his future with Ryan Seacrest.
"With Instagram, with Twitter, with cellphones — everyone's got a point-and-shoot, everyone's got a camera wherever you go," he said.
"If he had a joint in his mouth, maybe a million bucks, to somebody," Allocca said. "But no one outlet is paying that money. Magazines aren't the first to get it anymore. The Internet gets it."
But celebrities continue to get caught up in dangerous incidents involving paparazzi:
- In June 2011, Tori Spelling backed her car into the wall of her children's school in Tarzana, Calif., as she was being pursued by a photographer.
"Wht will it take?" Spelling tweeted at the time. "Someone dying for paparazzi to stop?"
- In October 2009, a car driven by Nicole Richie was rear-ended by a car carrying two photographers in Beverly Hills, Calif. The driver was arrested and found to have no driver's license.
- The same month, Brad Pitt was riding a motorcycle in Los Angeles when a photographer trying to get a picture rear-ended the actor with his car. Pitt and the motorcycle fell over, but he was uninjured.
- In 2010, a photographer claimed that he was badly injured when a car in which Lindsay Lohan was riding ran him over outside a Hollywood nightclub. The photographer sued Lohan in January 2011; Lohan asked a court to dismiss the suit last summer.
- In June, Lohan was involved in another crash when her rented Porsche ran into a truck in Santa Monica, Calif., while allegedly fleeing a pack of chasing paparazzi.
Allocca said it was "stupid" that the photographer who was killed Tuesday died over a picture that eventually would have little value.
"All I can say is remember the New Kids on the Block. Remember Hanson," he said.
"Bieber will be there shortly as well."
Daniel Strieff of NBC News contributed to this report.
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No sympathy for the paparazzo as he put himself in that position even after he was warned by the cop. The paparazzi take an insensitive story/photos at all cost to heck with humanity attitude and justify it with the it's my job excuse when ambushing from bushes type behavior is not part of the job, so they deserve no attitudes of compassion in return.
Sweet justice for all celebrities affected by these nosey creeps!!! Especially for Princess Diana!
Another Darwin award candidate. Now, if we can teach the Kardashians to use cameras...
This is what happens when you shoot beavers in a Ferrari.
OK...
So many things in this story that make me question what, if anything, is newsworthy about it.
The guy's death, although tragic, is no less frivolous.
He risks his life to take a photo of Justin Bieber's car. WHY? (The psuedo-famous celebretard is going to be a trivia question within a year). The lip-sync, pubescent, stage-barfing singerwasn't even DRIVING the car.
Now a young mother & her two small kids are traumatized at the sight of someone being struck and killed right in front of them. Does no one remember August 31, 1997? That was the day Princess Diana was killed trying to get away from tabloid photograph whores.
Who told this 18 year old kid that it was ok to own a car woth more than most peoples' homes. It's OBVIOUS he's not mature enough to handle such responsibility.
The salesman did his best to talk him out of the idea of buying the Ferrari, I'm sure. Costing more does not always equate to worth more. Probably had to buy something before they would cash his check, needed change for the arcade.
Score one for the entertainment industry.........papparazi zero I know , Im a bad person!
You're just a realist. And so am I.
The Radio stations are saying its "justin's fault"
Yeah Right, Kinda hard when he was not even in the car. Or the car that hit him...
THEY NEED TO GET THE STORY RIGHT.
The whole Justin Bieber thing is a complete mystery to me. Maybe I'm just getting old.
No you are just one of few who are intelligent to know better that to go gagag over a flash in pan teen idol who once he hits 25, it will all be over.
OMG....what is wrong with people? A life for this crap!
Well, it was a white Ferrari. Apparently, as rare as a white buffalo.
My heart goes out to the woman driver who hit him and the two children in her car... This is something that will affect then the rest of their lives...
I never could understand, why all these photographers, by the hundreds are jamming to take pictures... Even when the president is having a news conference, you are unable to hear him speak from all the cameras clicking...
Just plain stupid...
Good. One less jerkoff. Sad he died, but he died doing something stupid. Nobody made him do it so bye bye...
poparazzi's are the scum of the earth. photog got what he deserved.
of course "boomer".....the photog does a job you don't agree with and you believe this warrants "death"...
Justin Beaver should get that microphone sewn to his head so he knows where it is at all times. if he didn't look the way he dose he wouldn't be sh_t. but loose the head microphone. he has it on every time i see a picture.
Oh well at least innocent people didn't get hurt. What a reason to die tho, photographing a little ta ta fairy. But more important we better get stricter laws on cars and ban them. lol
Did anyone administer aid to the car that hit the pape'? At least, a good wash job!
One less paparazzi is a good start to the new year, yep. Losing a royal did not stop this hunger for fame and money but maybe killing off some of this scum will do the trick.
The photographer is one of the first 2013 nominees for a Darwin Award!
This is what happens when you allow people to purchase automatic, 15 shots per second, digital cameras. We need a Congressional Sub-Committee investigation on this one. We have too many automatic digital cameras in the hands of people who do not know when to come in from the rain, or how to avoid walking into the street in Los Angeles, while attempting to shoot moving vehicles.
One less paparazzi is a good start to the new year, yep. Losing a royal did not stop this hunger for fame and money but maybe killing off some of this scum will do the trick.
One less stalker.
are we supposed to care?
When will it be on youtube?
Did he get the picture? He must have known that someone, somewhere REALLY needed to see a picture of a white car.
I guess the photographer didn't put much of a premium on his own life. And on a second note....I guess JB doesn't care much for his expensive car since he let one of his idiot friends drive it. My prediction is he'll be broke in 10 years and will be a guest star on Celebrity Rehab or Celebrity The Real World, etc.
Not very nice. I am sure JB will be fine for years to come.
The last time JB called for assistance and told them that he was being followed by paparazzi. JB was pulled over and cited for speeding (I think) This time paparazzi is killed and JB wasn't even in the car. I have no sympathy for this guy who got killed. The police officer told him that he was in a dangerous spot. I commend JB for sending his condolences to the family. He is a nice young man. I wouldn't have lifted a finger to contact the family after all the crap that the paparazzi has put him through.