Celebrity Stalking
While celebrity stalking seems all the rage, it actually only comprises a small fraction of all California stalking charges. In fact, most California stalking charges involve domestic violence…that is, instances of stalking that involve intimate partners. “Intimate partners” include those who are or were:
- Married
- Dating
- Living together
Nonetheless, celebrity stalking is what grabs our attention...and is actually what drove the California Legislature to pass California’s anti-stalking laws in 1990. These laws were based on two very high-profile celebrity stalking cases involving actresses Theresa Saldana and Rebecca Schaeffer.
Since the 1990s, celebrity stalking seems like it’s always in the headlines. Actors such as Steven Spielberg, Jodie Foster, David Letterman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gloria Estefan, and Britney Spears have all been the victims of stalking in recent years.
Stalking, by definition, is harassing or threatening another person with the intent of placing that individual in fear for his/her safety or for the safety of his/her family. Because celebrities draw so much attention, they are prone to unwanted attention and persistent harassment.
The key, legally speaking, is figuring out when the “expected” celebrity lifestyle…that is, the constant public intrusion into a celebrity’s private life…goes from simply being a “part of the job” to a matter of personal safety.
