Surfers Attack Photographer Over Matthew McConaughey

MALIBU, Calif. — A paparazzo trying to photograph Matthew McConaughey at the beach told police he was attacked by a mob of surfers who threw his camera in the ocean.

The 29-year-old photojournalist told sheriff's deputies that a large group of surfers near Paradise Cove in Malibu approached him and other paparazzi about 2 p.m. Saturday and demanded the group stop taking pictures and filming.

"There was apparently a fight, and the photographer gave a statement that he received injuries," Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said Sunday. Detectives are investigating, he said.

McConaughey was not involved in the attack, authorities said.

A call to McConaughey's publicist was not immediately returned.

The celebrity Web site TMZ.com posted a video Sunday showing about a dozen young men in swimsuits approaching what appears to be a group of paparazzi and yelling and swearing at them.

A scuffle breaks out after one of the photographers exchanges insults with the group and at first refuses their orders to leave.

"I'll give you a thousand bucks if you leave right now," one of the young men in swimsuits tells the photographers.

Another shoves a photographer filming the scene, and still another says, "We'll draw a line in the beach, and we'll fight for the beach. If you guys win, you can have the beach."

When one member of the group shouts at a photographer, "Get a ... real job," the photographer replies, "This is a real job. What do you do?"

The man replies: "I just drink beer and party."

Comments

[LeonFreilich]

YOUTHLAND

Interest-groups are always seeking
A separate zone;
Kids today make up a country
Of their own.

Independence is their creed,
Tolerance trash;
Others' notions not accepted--
Only cash.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Finally! It has begun! (The citizen backlash against the Paparazzi!)

[KarateKid]

The photogs probably interrupted the surfer circle jerk.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

That's your fantasy...

[stephenswain]

Let's reach a nice compromise: Let the photographers do their work. Let the surfers surf. Let the stoners get stoned. But the smart photographers would buy a very nice, very long lens for this kind of venue so they are not "in the way." I mean, after all, surfing appears to be very serious business ...

At least it is to the surfers.
And selling pictures is definitely a business.
So, live and let live. But do it discreetly, please, children.

[Voltage]

After watching TMZ TV I have no sympathy for the paparazzi. They're so arrogant, rude, cocky, and smug during their "editorial" sessions that I now feel they deserve to be treated like the scum that they truly are.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

You get it!

[aaawyeah]

yo go, surfers! paparazzi are like meter maids - no good anybody but their parasitic over-lords. down with them all, i say! *shakes fist*

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

These Malibu surfers need to get a job, they strut around with wet suits around their waist, stoned and coked out of their minds. threatening anyone who dares come near their beach. Last time I looked it was a free country and people are allowed to be on public beaches taking pictures of whatever they want. And BTW - "dudes" why don't you try riding a real swell instead of those tiny bunny humps you're fighting over. Posers & losers.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

Yeah... and I would sell my soul to the Devil to live their life--wouldnt you?

[BlueOnBlue]

Almost predictably this has escalated to where the beach bums are threatening anyone caught on the beach with an advanced-looking camera. Here's a story about a young student who found herself harassed simply for trying to shoot some photos for a class assignment....

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/06/locals-fight-pa.html

Vigilantism is a greater crime than paparazzism. We should not cheer on thugs, even if the thugs are on our side. That makes us criminals as well.

Life is really, really simple: just try to follow the golden rule.

[Aesthete]

I live in a community (which shall remain nameless) where a celebrity can go out in public without being bothered.

[Aesthete]

Stalking celebrities is one thing, but it angers me to see paparazzi forcing their presence upon them when they are out with their children or other family members. Most celebrities understand that some loss of privacy is part of the price of fame. Their children, however, should not be subjected to such intrusion, which can verge on molestation. Family members of celebrities did not ask for this. Even for the celebrities, sticking an uninvited camera in someone's face is extremely rude and I have no sympathy for a paparazzo who gets his very expensive camera smashed or the film removed and exposed. Some paparazzi seek to deliberately provoke incidents in order to show the celebrity in a bad light. I'm old enough to recall how Frank Sinatra dealt with paparazzi whenever his "no pictures" order was violated.

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

Oh, let's cry for the celebrity children... and their "right to privacy" on a PUBLIC beach. Give me a break. Never mind the thousands of children in Los Angeles in the foster care system, struggling in poverty and can't afford the gas to get to the beach in the first place.

"Stalking" "Forcing their presence"? Um... It's broad daylight on a public beach. Amazing.

[dac253]

When me and Matt McConn are gettin high on the beach, you better keep the lens cap on.

[VivaZapata]

Poor paparazzi. Please allow these people to make their parasitic living in peace! Where is the law when we need it least?

[butonelife]

I grew up on that beach, learned to surf there in the early '70's. Hated moving out, but the parents thought a $150,000 return on their property (ocean view) was a huge deal. Oh well. Good to see the beach rats are still as brave as ever...in a pack. Not that I feel like defending paparazzis much. Seems like there's some good meat to send to Iraq.

[RedWhiteandBlueState]

In a pack. Exactly.

[RButler]

Can't celebrities use existing 'stalker' laws to keep the paparazzi at bay? Also, can't they copyright their likeness so that it can't be sold. You can't put a celebrity's picture on a can of beer to sell it. Isn't there a certain expectation of privacy even in public. Can guys wear mirrors on their shoes to look up women's skirts? Just asking.

[MadMoll]

Nope. The laws don't apply to "non-threatening" situations, so, they can stalk Brittany Spears in the hope that they can get pix her killing herself.

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

You are so correct! Someone is going to have to get killed (like Princess Di in France) trying to outrun the paparazzi in this country for things to change.

[BlackBuddha]

Just spoke to an eyewitness....

This was a TWO day event.

Saturday, a couple paps were being loud and rude toward their targets. Paps became intimidating when asked to leave the private beach by adult homeowners. Paps became aggressive and a group of homeowners escorted them off the private property.

Sunday, a large group of paps brought at least one bodyguard that was touted as an ultimate fighter to confront the locals. What you see is the "made for TV" movie from Sunday.

And remember, this is the least of our worries when Traitors run the country.

[suziesbro]

This was not a "private beach." California law permits public beach access at any time up to "the mean high-tide line." Super-rich homeowners in Malibu hire private security guards who intimidate beachgoers with trespassing claims in contravention of the law. Sadly, many cower when these thugs strut in their direction.

[slope142]

Now if we can just turn those Justice League Surfers towards the oil speculators that are responsible for $4.00 gas . . . . hey, do those guys have a theme song yet?