Hugh Bastard! Grant Flips Out on Photog

31. To all celebrities and aspiring celebrities: your right to privacy stops when you become famous. Didn't you know that before you signed up? To be stalked and have stupid things shouted at you is of course wrong, but to have cameras in your face 24/7 is part of the job that you're overpaid to do. It's like saying "well, I want to be a parent but I don't like to change diapers or lose sleep" or "I want to be a fire fighter but I don't want to go into any burning buildings" It comes with the territory. Deal with it.

Posted at 7:49PM on Apr 25th 2007 by that's what you get

32. he should be lucky anyone is following him...

Posted at 7:57PM on Apr 25th 2007 by craven

33. I'm with the "Don't blame him" group. The thing is though, we don't know what happened before or after this pic. Hugh could have asked politely for paps to leave him alone. But then again. Its HIS Property...he should have the dignity to be left alone. I'd chase off anyone on MY property, so I don't blame Hugh one bit.

Posted at 10:24PM on Apr 25th 2007 by K&S

34. Hugh Grant is hysterical in comedies & I LOVE him, In "Love Actually" when he played the prime minister he was GREAT! I don't blame him a bit for not wanting to be stalked...Good for HIM! all you posters who don't know him why bother posting, your opinions don't mean a thing.....

Posted at 11:20PM on Apr 25th 2007 by MS. M

35. I can see where celebrities would be irritated to the point of anger for being followed or photographed all of the time. However, violence is never justified, no matter how angry you are. Celebrities can take legal action, get a bodyguard, etc., whatever it takes to keep the paparazzi away as much as possible. The way Hugh acted is just primitive though. I really like him, but am disappointed in his actions. Shame on you Hugh!

Posted at 12:15AM on Apr 26th 2007 by Kate

36. he threw baked beans at the photog.

Posted at 8:30AM on Apr 26th 2007 by kk

37. I just saw this on CNN he was arrested for throwing bean at him lol....To funny must be a slow news day.....Go Hugh!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 9:45AM on Apr 26th 2007 by fan

38. good for you hugh

Posted at 1:02PM on Apr 26th 2007 by itsmemom

39. erehwon, thanks for your analysis; you are brilliant. I'd watch you pull for Cambridge anytime.

Not all actors entered their profession in search of fame; many of them are simply motivated by creating a product of art that provokes thought or emotional reaction in the viewer. If an actor creates a condition whereby the audience can understand or feel something because of his efforts, he has succeeded at his job as an actor. At the time he is actually doing his job, the actor is focussed on hitting his mark, delivering his lines, maintaining meaning with movement, developing tension or giving the illusion of ease, -- all those little niceties and nuances of performance that breathe life into the created work... The fact that the audience might later clamour after him for his autograph or want to press their invariably sweaty bodies next to his for a quick snap to send Grans is probably the furthest thing from his mind just then. He's just doing his job. And if he becomes a celebrity, it's because he's really good at his job or lucky or both.

To say that a celebrity has no right to privacy because he is in the entertainment business is like saying that a banker has no right to choose at what rate or to whom he lends his money because he is in the money-lending business.

American courts have long held that a celebrity's "name, likeness, and endorsement carry value and an unauthorized use harms the person both by diluting the value of the name and depriving that individual of compensation." So in this sense, the paparazzi who disregard a celebrity's request for privacy are thieves -- stealing and selling a product that is not theirs to sell. Unfortunately, it is still quite difficult to call them on the rug there, since more often than not they share a symbiotic relationship with the business that thrives on hooking and keeping the public's attention. (But what is good for a business as a whole may not necessarily be good for a particular individual...)

Worse yet for Mr. Grant, the English courts lag far behind the Americans in these sorts of appropriation cases. Until all courts acknowledge the sole rights of the actor to any commercial gain from his "persona brand" (whether one attributes that brand to carefully honed skill or to sheer luck), Mr. Grant and others will continue to suffer the constant irritating blood-feeding of the glass-eyed mosquitoes.

And we should not be too shocked by nor hasty to judge Mr. Grant's reaction -- when plagued by mosquitoes, it is only human nature to swat.

Posted at 2:59PM on Apr 26th 2007 by Cellarius

40. The law has to change. These guys who prey on Celebreties and get big bucks should be required to pay the celebrity a portion of the monies and that goes for the sensational papers and other media that seem to feel that they are the only ones entitled to a living. If you catch a guy doing something you deem sensational to sell your papers or other media then pay him or her. The amount can be worked out I'm sure.

Posted at 4:05PM on Apr 26th 2007 by johnlance

41. hahaha...throw those beans hugh...the deserve it...espically for taking pictures of you on your private time....lol!

that's what you guys get...!

Posted at 10:42AM on Apr 27th 2007 by naturalgif1

42. Go Hugh!! I've got some toast for those beans!!!!!

Posted at 1:30PM on Apr 27th 2007 by Lynne

43. we sell baked beans in cans over here. Do you think Hugh would like to borrow 1?? Has he been signed up as pitcher for the NY Yankees yet??

Posted at 9:52PM on Apr 27th 2007 by Aussie spirit

44. Is there no law that will jail paparazzis who invade the privacy of celebrities just to earn a living? I wonder why hugh has to be arrested????????

Posted at 9:41PM on May 8th 2007 by isabelle

45. I have the impression that hugh is a decent man with good breeding. If he did such un-called for actions maybe because he was pissed off. He deserve some privacy at least......

Posted at 9:34PM on May 8th 2007 by isabelle