Fame can open doors to incredible opportunities, but it also comes at a personal cost. For Jennifer Garner, that price included years of relentless attention from the paparazzi that often intruded into her private life. Reflecting on those experiences, the actress recalled a few dangerous and unsettling encounters that left a lasting impression.
For decades, paparazzi have earned their livelihood by capturing candid moments of celebrities, often trailing them in hopes of capturing exclusive photos. The practice has long sparked debates about privacy and the boundaries when it comes to public figures.
Jennifer Garner has had many run-ins with paparazzi, especially when her children were little. The actress acknowledged that her fame afforded her children privileged lives, but she also highlighted the dangers that come with the territory.
“It was totally ludicrous. And it felt like ‘Poor little me, my poor little kids who have everything in the world,’ but it was a danger to everyone around us,” she said in an episode of the “Shut Up Evan” podcast.
The actress, who shares three children with ex-husband Ben Affleck, recalled how cars of paparazzi would chase her through stoplights or drive on hills or other people’s lawns just to capture a photo of her with her children.
The Actress Said Her Children Paid The Price For Their Parents Being Famous
Garner noted that she lived on a street with people who were more famous than her, but for some reason, the paparazzi focused on her when she was out with her children. It got to a point where her child was asked not to return to a soccer program because a swarm of paparazzi was always present whenever they showed up.
“If you show up and you’re trying to get into the pediatrician and you have a sick kid on your shoulder and you’re scared and you can’t get into the door because you’re blocked by photographers, there’s something wrong with that,” Garner explained, adding, “The kids are paying the price.”
Moreover, the actress said other children who were not even associated with them were affected, as they were “knocked over” by paparazzi who were trying to capture a photo of her, Affleck, or their child at a preschool.
Jennifer Garner Has An ‘Odd Respect’ For One Papparazzo
The actress shared how the circumstances have changed now that her children are a bit older. However, a couple of photographers who have “been assigned” to the actress for the past two decades still follow her around.
Garner said she shares “an odd respect” for a particular paparazzo whom she turned to at one point when she felt unsettled. She was being followed by a person and thought she was going to get hurt, and she ran to the photographer. “I knew him and trusted him, and I knew that he and I would be OK,” she shared.
She admitted that it was an interesting relationship, as she had called authorities on the paparazzo many times in the past, but she trusted him at a vulnerable time. “There’s kind of a Stockholm Syndrome thing,” Garner added.
The Actress Discussed Her Relationship With Paparazzi In The Past
In 2020, Garner sat down with Kelly Corrigan for an episode of “Tell Me More,” where the actress talked about one memorable thing a paparazzo told her.
“I just loathe them so much and what they do, but there are a couple of them that have been with me for so long,” she said. At one point, Garner said one of them approached her and said, “You don’t know how much we love watching you with your children. You don’t know how much we respect you.”
Garner acknowledged that there was truth behind the statement, at least for that particular photographer, and said. “They do know me better than anyone knows me.”
Halle Berry And Jennifer Garner Advocated For A Senate Bill To Protect Children’s Privacy
In 2013, Garner and Halle Berry testified before legislative committees in support of Senate Bill 606, which protects children from aggressive paparazzi and introduced harsh penalties for violators.
Berry stated that paparazzi behavior caused her children “trauma and emotional distress.” One of Garner’s children also spoke with authorities and expressed how scared she felt around aggressive photographers who held cameras that “look like guns.”
The law was passed and went into effect in January 2014. It covers stalking, following, and lying in wait for a child. Paparazzi must also have consent from a parent or legal guardian to record children. Violators face 10 days up to one year of jail time and fines up to $10,000.
