Celebrity Babies: Why Do We Care?

I am as obsessed with celebrity news as the next person; I am constantly perusing PerezHilton.com, TMZ.com, and all the other gossip pages, to read up on celeb news. I’m the first one to answer all the Pop Culture questions right at Trivia Night, and I thrive on reading the most intimate details of fights, breakups and love triangles of those we adorn from afar.

But even I, as much of a celeb-session that I have, do not think it’s appropriate to showcase your one month old child on the cover of US Weekly, People, In Touch, OK! or others, bartering with various publications for who will pay the most for the first pics of the new bebe.

In an article by Forbes Magazine, the topic of celebrity baby pictures – and the outlandish prices – was addressed. According to reports, JLo and Marc Anthony were paid $6 million from People Magazine for the first shots of the twins. $6 million?! For baby photos?! That’s more than I’ll make in a lifetime – hey, that’s more than everyone I know combined will make in a life time!

While I think it’s ridiculous to pull figures for your children, at least, if you do it, be charitable about it. Take the famous Brangelina couple, who, at the birth of Shiloh in 2006, were paid $4.1 million by People for the pics, all of which they donated entirely to an African charity. Okay so, still not the best idea to pimp out your kid for some dough, but at least, if you’re going to do it (which they all are – can we guess how much Ashlee & Pete will get???), they did it with some class.

An editor from OK! was interviewed for the article and said the price for the pics is absolutely worth it, as they sell magazine’s like hot cakes. (The Shiloh cover sold 2.2 million copies, which is 45% above the average circulation.) Clearly, I get why magazines want the pictures, but why do WE, us average joes, care so much?

I’ll be the first to admit that I still – despite my ranting and raving – pick up those magazines and flip directly to JLo’s twins, or Angie’s baby girl to see the first glimpse of the baby, the nursery and the happy parents. I think we care so much because we revel in the unknown. The fact that JLo and Marc Anthony can spend millions on a baby nursery is something I’ll never be able to do, so looking at their fortunes intrigues me.

While discussing this topic with some friends, we also decided that seeing Angelina beat the crap out of 10 guys at once is one thing, but seeing her arms wrapped around a child makes her seem normal, grounded and real. Also, I think we’re just nosy little people who thrive on finding out every aspect of these individuals lives, when really, there are much bigger fish to fry when it comes to life’s necessities.

I understand you are proud of your children, but marketing your child is not something I will ever advocate for. Yes, the stars can demand their own prices, their own regulations and decisions, but when is enough, enough when it comes to exploiting the gift that you’re supposed to experience in private with your family? It’s one thing to put yourself out there on the movie screen, TV show or magazine covers, but please, spare your children.

Not every star will conform though. My favorite NYC fashionista, Sarah Jessica Parker, reportedly turned down roughly $1 million in 2002 for pictures of her son James. Thatta girl sister. Way to stand alone.

(Photo courtesy of fashiontribes.com)