Rebecca Judd calls for a change paparazzi laws to protect children

REBECCA Judd is calling for changes to paparazzi laws to protect celebrity kids and she’s already got some famous faces lining up to support her.

BEC Judd wants law makers to change paparazzi laws to protect children.

“You should not be followed by a stranger who takes photos of your kids and sells them for commercial purposes,” Judd, a television presenter, model, homewares designer, businesswoman and mother of four, told the Herald Sun.
“I understand I’m fair game in public spaces, but when children are involved ... that’s unacceptable.

“They can take a picture of your kids and there’s nothing you can do about it. The rights are with the paparazzo. I find that appalling. I want to change that law,” she said.

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Bec Judd wants law makers to change paparazzi laws to protect children. Picture: Sarah Matray

Bec, wife of AFL legend Chris Judd, has the support of several “high profile mums” keen to lobby for restrictions against the paparazzi.
“Their kids get a hard time, too,” Judd said.
“I know it’s boring when celebrities complain about paps because the public think it’s a privilege to be followed. But children need to be protected.”

Broadcaster Chrissie Swan was papped with her children recently, sparking public outrage.

Swan’s manager Henrietta Stride told the Herald Sun: “Chrissie will be taking steps to protect children of Australian celebrities from being exploited by the tabloid media.”

In pap-infested Hollywood, California politicians passed legislation imposing heavy fines and jail time on sneaky snappers aiming their lenses at celebrity kids.

Authorities defined the pap “harassment” as conduct that “seriously alarms, annoys, torments or terrorises” a child and can include recording a child’s image or voice without express consent.

Locally, at the very least, children’s faces should be blurred out in paparazzi shots, Judd said.

Rebecca Judd. Picture: Sarah Matray

Her campaign follows fury over the mother-and-son paparazzi team who stalked her while she was pregnant with twins last year.

“I saw a mum, mid to late 40s, and a teenage boy. I thought: ‘They’re not paps, they’re a mum and a son,’” Judd recalled.
“Then he walks towards me, pulls a camera from his bag, and says politely: ‘Hi Rebecca. Congratulations on the twins!’

“I was gobsmacked. I was like: ‘Mate, is that your mum?’ And he’s: ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ We drove all the way from Adelaide to take photos of you.’ I still cannot believe it.”
She said her anger is not directed at the teen, but the grown-up enabling his stalking hobby.

Judd’s concerns as a loving, protective mum also comes as her daughter, Billie, 3, signs with toy giant Mattel as the face of a new Barbie range launching at Myer in May.

She said her criteria for allowing Billie to do the campaign was: “Is it going to be fun for her and is she going to enjoy it.”

Judd, a prolific Instagrammer with 618,000 followers, added: “I always ask my kids: ‘Do you wanna do this?’ If they don’t want to do it, they don’t do it. If I’m taking photos at home, for example, I ask: ‘Do you want to be in a shot?’ If not, fine, the camera goes away.”

“You’ve got to respect your child’s wishes.”