# TMZ going down for Rihanna photo? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 21, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882 "2009-02-21T19:48:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/21 "2009-02-22T05:06:20Z")
> [@nani](#): > > [COLOR=“black”]\*Chris Brown is famous for [this song.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2IExa2A198)[/COLOR] Not that it really matters, but Chris Brown was famous long before that song. This is the song that started his career really off like 4 years ago: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8vI1R4L4ac](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8vI1R4L4ac) And his career is completely over. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some crazed fan take a shot at him either (and I just don’t mean physical altercation, I mean biggy and tupac style). ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/22 "2009-02-22T05:12:17Z")
If she gets back together with him, I believe her career may be over as well. That would be most unfortunate for her. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/23 "2009-02-22T05:12:39Z")
> [@Paul in Saudi](#): > > The idea is that the victims of domestic violence and sexual crimes are not usually publicly identified. I was old enough to pay attention when these laws were passed. They were controversial in that a person can accuse someone sure his name could not be released. On the other hand, laws protecting the identify of victims has encouraged people to testify. > > On balance it is a good idea. I do understand not publishing the photos for evidentiary reasons, I guess. In some respects, I understand the sex-crimes privacy. There was, and unfortunately still is, a social stigma against victims of rape. The victims are now “soiled” or they were “asking for it” or some other equally stupid conclusions made by the general public. At least for me, domestic violence is in a whole 'nuther realm. I don’t understand the “shame” that the victims are made to feel. The victim’s only crime was to love a deplorable asshole. When I look at that picture, I don’t see a woman to be shamed. I see a woman who has been beaten. My ex FIL was a beater. I never blamed my MIL or made her feel shameful. He was an awful, awful man and for whatever her reasons, she felt that she didn’t have any other alternatives but to stay with him. If Rhianna does want him back, then she may need therapy, but publishing the photos doesn’t change anything for me. ---
**Author:** ![Waenara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@Waenara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waenara)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/24 "2009-02-22T06:02:51Z")
I’ve watched TMZ’s tv show a couple times, and it seems like they’re always pretty careful to only use legal means to obtain photos and videos of celebrities, and TMZ’s head honcho is/was a lawyer. I’m inclined to think it’s more likely than not that TMZ’s telling the truth about obtaining Rihanna’s photo legally. In the news yesterday I saw a bunch of commentators saying how releasing the photo re-victimizes Rihanna, but the statement she released only said that she’s going through a difficult time and appreciates the support she’s received. I’m just speculating, but maybe her lawyer or publicist, or one of her friends/staff released the photo to TMZ? I’ve heard that the tabloids and paparazzi get a large proportion of the their “leads” directly from celebrities or their handlers, so the celebrity is able to somewhat control how/what the paparazzi get. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/25 "2009-02-22T08:16:35Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > IANA police officer or prosecutor, but I would think that they wouldn’t want evidence shown to the general public before the jury is even picked, should there be a trial. Would that mean , that Chris Brown might walk because he could not get a fair trial ? I know that you mentioned that you are neither a police officer or the DA, but what you passed on about being a walking deadman according to the street makes me think of that guy who mugged John Gotti’s mom , and the cops could not find any evidence to charge him, lol. Wheels within wheels. Declan ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/26 "2009-02-22T11:36:02Z")
Story gets weirder. [Rumors Also Start to Surface That Rihanna May Have Given Brown a Sexually Transmitted Disease Which Led to Breakup and Fight](http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/8925) > [@](#): > > According a report online (and usually pretty reliable) gossip site Media Take Out, Rihanna will not be pursuing charges after being allegedly struck by boyfriend Chris Brown after the pair attended a pre-Grammy party on Saturday evening. The altercation, which led to Brown’s arrest, and the pair not being able to perform separate sets at the event made headlines nationwide today. > > The report from the site also says that the reason the pair were fighting was due to the recent breakup by the pair. Rihanna has wanted to continue the relationship, while Brown wants to go his separate ways. That is where the story gets more scandalous as Tom Joyner, who has a nationally syndicated radio broadcast out of Atlanta’s Kiss 104.1, added the reason that Brown is mad at the Barbados singer for giving him and STD. > > Brown, who had been charged with a felony, has been released on $50,000 bail and will be represented by high profile attorney Mark Geragos ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/27 "2009-02-22T14:47:23Z")
It is the policy of the LAPD not to identify alleged victims of domestic violence, at least at this stage of the investigation. Therefore, they haven’t even been able to say her name during press conference (did you catch how stilted and careful the chief had to be?). It is against LAPD policy to release information about above-noted people. So, whoever released that photo (if it is indeed a department photo, which has not been fully established- someone else might have taken it) is in deep shit with the department. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/28 "2009-02-22T17:24:42Z")
I don’t think much about publishing celebrities. You know they are the first to push themselves in line to get into clubs, and resturants and shows and exploit their celebrity when it’s to their advantage. Yet they cry foul when a “bad” side to them is exposed. I would feel differently if it was a private person, but really she got beat, by publishing the photo she has shown women all over the world they are NOT alone. Their abuse isn’t deserved and they aren’t the only ones it happens to. It happens to even rich celebrities. It’s not just because they are poor, or drunk, or whatever. But once again, celelbrites cry foul and instead of acknowledging their poor choices and choosing to DO something about it, they twist the facts when the light isn’t good. I wonder how any celebrity would feel when they stop getting all the FAVOURABLE preferential treatment. If she was a regular black women, they’d all be talking about how stupid she was to let a man beat her up like that. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/29 "2009-02-22T17:31:47Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > I need some enlightenment… > > What is so terrible about publishing those photos? > > The pros are that there is little doubt that this was not some kind of trumped up charge against a boyfriend by a drama queen. The photo proves that she was indeed beaten. > > The cons? I’ve known battered women who were absolutely terrified at the prospect of their suffering being exposed to public view. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/30 "2009-02-22T17:40:50Z")
Wasn’t TMZ the place that also published the picture and name of a 14 year old boy that was in the middle of a case where a 22 year old woman was being prosecuted for having sex with him? The boy is the son of a famous guy, and other places had the story but ran it without pictures or names. ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/31 "2009-02-22T19:14:17Z")
TMZ is fairly despicable in general so I doubt this one faux pas is going to do them in. Watching the show is somewhat akin to eating at Mcdonalds; enjoyable at the time, but you feel like you did damage to your undying soul. Here is my impression of TMZ: “Look at this picture of Claire Danes tripping… what a moronic klutz she must be. She shouldn’t be permitted to own or operate a motor vehicle.” “We got a shot of Patrick Dempsey picking his nose… clearly he is a filthy, unwashed, maggot of a human being.” ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/32 "2009-02-22T19:56:09Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’ve known battered women who were absolutely terrified at the prospect of their suffering being exposed to public view. Then I stand corrected. I still don’t understand their “terror” but not ever having been a battered woman, I will have to defer to their experience. It saddens me that a victim of a brutal crime would have to feel “terrified at the prospect of their suffering being exposed to public view.” They have nothing to be shameful of. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/33 "2009-02-22T20:00:30Z")
> [@Ruby](#): > > Then I stand corrected. I still don’t understand their “terror” but not ever having been a battered woman, I will have to defer to their experience. It saddens me that a victim of a brutal crime would have to feel “terrified at the prospect of their suffering being exposed to public view.” They have nothing to be shameful of. Oh, I didn’t say their response was rational. A concern need not be grounded in logic to be worthy fo respect. Moreover, there’s a virtue to keeping some things private. I’m not ashamed of the fact that I broke down in tears the day after my mother’s death, but if someone were to broadcast video of it because I happened to be famous, I’d be justifably pissed, and the person who did it would be a vile asshole. ---
**Author:** ![PharmBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@PharmBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PharmBoy)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/34 "2009-02-22T21:34:06Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I don’t know anything about Rihanna other htan that my nieces & stepdaughter like her, and I know less about Chris Brown, and I’m not even sure what TMZ stands for. Having thus established my pop music cluelessness, I must say that publishing the photo is vile, and the editor responsible for making that decision needs his ass kicked. Why? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/35 "2009-02-22T21:46:32Z")
The TMZ people are disgusting. My gf likes their TV show so I’ve seen it a few times. If I ever get extremely wealthy, I’m going to pay some paparazzi to follow some of their correspondents around for a year and film their every move. I mean seriously fuck with their lives legally. They’re on TV so they’re “celebrities” too. I’ll make a special web site to post their embarrassing stuff too. Especially that smarmy dude with the long blond hair. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/36 "2009-02-22T21:49:35Z")
> [@PharmBoy](#): > > Why? I think my other posts in this thread make it clear that I see no reason why a person’s celebrity should entail his or her surrendering all privacy to the prurient and intrusive curiosity of a ruthless and vile press. I also find it easy to believe that a battered woman might feel violated and humiliated again by having such a photograph published. ---
**Author:** ![PharmBoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@PharmBoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PharmBoy)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882/37 "2009-02-23T00:04:44Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I think my other posts in this thread make it clear that I see no reason why a person’s celebrity should entail his or her surrendering all privacy to the prurient and intrusive curiosity of a ruthless and vile press. I also find it easy to believe that a battered woman might feel violated and humiliated again by having such a photograph published. I’ll buy that. But, it also shows what a complete dirt-bag Chris Brown is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tmz-going-down-for-rihanna-photo/486882.md?page=1)