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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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This little circus monkey, can kiss my a$$.
Ban Them !!!!!!!!!
new law? what that cars can't run over people or that people can't go into the road where it's not a crosswalk?
classic made-up star comment - no brain, no talent, no clue.
I have noticed there is a largely disproportionate number of Paps in Los Angeles with Spanish surnames? Boy, they are annoying all the way around.
Racist.
Meanwhile, in other news, Bieber is still a douche.
Perhaps they can plaster the photos of the incident all over the 'Crap' papers that seem to find all this so valuable. Doesn't matter who's life is inconvenienced or destroyed as long as the all mighty dollar can be made. I'm sure it will fetch a few bucks. Sad that there is ANY demand for this nonsense. I nearly threw up my breakfast when this Kardashian wench's pregnancy made the headlines on the Today show yesterday morning. What the hell is wrong with people. Do they need to live vicariously thru these insignificant, superficial A holes? When they begin doing something to help humanity, then I want to hear about them. Until then I don't give a rat's ass if they're buried in a cellar somewhere.
Celebrity worship can be fatal...
Clearly, there is a superior court judge who needs to do some hard prison time. By refusing to apply the law against these criminal voyeurs, the judge bears a portion of the responsibility for this death.
So a pap gets run over and this is news?
So Bieber makes an utterance and THIS is news?
New LAW?
When it comes to carefully balancing freedom of speech and the privacy of a celebrity, it is important to listen to a wise statesman like... Justin Bieber?
No, I don't think we will be passing unconstitutional suppression of photographers just so Bielzeber can avoid the price of his career. Because if we pass laws like that, then suddenly it will be politicians and corrupt cops, and others who will use the law. Suddenly, the waiter who filmed the 47% speech that cost Romney the election will be classed a "paparazzi" and his video banned because Bieber? I don't think so. I'd rather keep my first amendment thank you.
Funny how that didn't even come up in this article published in the PRESS. Geez press people, do your job.
they tried to cut his nads off, what the hell is wrong with you people?
Beiber go home change the laws in Canada to your liking.
funny creek dog - and the other funny , kim kardasions butt
$100.00+ for some picture of this tool? He isn't even a citizen of the United States and calling for a CRACKDOWN! Crackdown, you're hilarious bliebler! He has a lot of bad things to say about The United States. But he sure loves the money! Total prick. Go back to canaduh ya freak.
how do you manage to get dressed?
not a "physical" handicap joke if u are
Americans are tone deaf. Wonder if he got his shots?
i pick on 17 year olds all day man, they wont get the shot joke
No laws will prevent the paparazzi from being idiots. None.
Good start to the year, actually. Too bad Beiber didn't go with him though.
i think its bad karma to wish death on someone next to a piture of your kid
Feel sorry for the poor lady with kids in the car, what if she had turned into another car to avoid this future piece of roadkill, not to mention the traumaon her and her children..
well said, good stuff
Maybe requiring a person to have a license to sell photo's tio magazines might slow some oof this craze down. There isn't a star or Celebrity of any kind that i would pay for a photo of. Maybe making it against the law to publish a photo from an unlicensed person would help.
makes sense
Though I feel more for the woman that hit the paparazzi, it is a shame it happened. They should out law, with jail time any time a picture is pursued without a person's permission. Yea, I believe in the paparazzi's rights, but what about the person they are taking the picture of, what about his/her's rights? 12 months in jail would solve a lot of problems!
Mr. Bieber has had a few run ins with the law himself. He is just not as cute at 18 as he was at 15...Justin go home to Canada and live there...we don't need another over hyped kid here in California. You are not a US citizen so don't worry about our laws...you can't vote here...probably you don't want citizenship for tax reasons...you know what I think of you and your ideas...yuck!
at a loss, why be mean to him?
ya after reading these posts he wont want to be an american for "tax reasons"
It should be mandatory that any and all proceeds for these BS photos be donated to charity. No one profits a dime. Watch how soon the politics change. It will all be underground. Just like 'The Velvet!'
Why should any teenaged CANADIAN be able to tell the US we should enact laws to keep photographers from doing their jobs -- so HE can feel safer? Send this little creep back north of the border and let him play in the snow in his Ferrari.
Ban photography!
That "Bieber calls for..........." makes headlines is pathetic.
Bieber is right in my opinion. It's one thing to be out in a public place as a famous person and have photograpers everywhere, but this sort of sniping is not only a hazard to the celebrities themselves and the paparazzi, it is also a public hazard.
What about the person that hit this photographer? How do they feel? What was they economic damage to them? Maybe it wasn't their fault, but someone's dead and they were driving the car.
Famous or not, all people deserve a certain modicum of privacy and beyond this issue, there should be some line that is short of what would require extraordinary or dangerous means.
I'm 54 years old and honestly wouldn't recognize one of his songs if I heard it, but this is a long standing issue and the kid is right.