Jennifer Garner Illustrates Contentious Relationship Between Stars And Paparazzi

Jennifer Garner had celebrity watchers gushing when she splashed across the Web with her kids in Central Park last week. The appearance was not without a sense of irony.

Garner, in New York City for a benefit gala for Save the Children, recently aided fellow actress Halle Berry in pushing California’s Senate Bill 606, which seeks to protect the children of celebrities from harassment by paparazzi. The bill, signed into law on September 24 by Governor Jerry Brown, increases the possible punishment for harassing celebrity kids, according to E!Online. It also clarifies the legal definition of harassment in such cases and makes it easier to sue a paparazzo over an incident of harassment. Garner and Berry both testified in August in support of the bill.

“I chose a public life,” Garner stated. “My three children are private citizens. I love my kids. They’re beautiful and sweet and innocent, and I don’t want a gang of shouting, arguing, lawbreaking photographers who camp out everywhere we are all day, every day, to continue traumatizing my kids.”

Garner told Today correspondent Jenna Bush Hager she and husband Ben Affleck did not expect the bill to pass. The celebrity couple had considered leaving the state if that was the case.

“We had looked at all different things, moving out of California, you know all manners of things,” said 41-year-old Garner.

Jennifer Garner elaborated on the relationship between stars and paparazzi, adding that consumers believe celebrities to be complicit in having their pictures taken and blasted everywhere, when the reality is that photographers follow their every move and set up shop outside their homes. Garner, whose children take karate, falls victim to having a predictable routine when travelling to and from their classes. Her frustration seemed to have boiled over when she confronted a photographer in September and started taking pictures of her own.

“I can’t go to the mailbox without getting my picture taken, so I don’t.”

Garner is hardly the first star to have a run in with the paparazzi and won’t be the last. The spats between photographers and celebrities, from Kanye West to Sean Penn and Alec Baldwin, provide intrigue and entertainment almost on par with their professional endeavors. A simple search reveals numerous lists of the top clashes.

Berry released a celebratory statement following SB 606 being signed into law, praising Gov. Brown and Sen. Kevin de Leon, sponsor of the bill. She also had some kind words for her fellow celebs and their help in her crusade.

“I am forever in awe of the support I got within my community, from the enormously talented musician Adele to fellow actor, Jennifer Garner, who traveled with me to Sacramento to share her children’s stories, experience and her desire to give them a better life.”