• A Letter to X17
    • October 12, 2010 | Blog

    Dear X17,

    THANK YOU so much for posting the video of your employees sitting outside of my daughter’s school, because now the entire world can see how creepy and disgusting you are.

    You do not get to spend 200 dollars on a camera, and think that gives you a free pass to shadow my child. These are strangers, grown men, stalking young children. You think that’s ok?

    Here’s a better visual: Pulling up to school and seeing grown men slouched in black windowed cars outside of a preschool, all day.   I’m not even there, so you cannot say you are following me as you always do. You are stalking the children. Now how do you feel?

    I PROMISE YOU that I am going to do a background check on each and every person that I see there. For the safety of my children and others. Because the last time I did a check on your staff, I found they had no license. Remember that day? The day that ended with a car accident and me in a hospital?  You, x17, better be pretty confident in your actions, and feel really good about what you are doing.  If I find out anyone has a suspended, restricted or invalid license, I will have them thrown in jail before they can pick up the phone and call their lawyers.

    YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. These are young children and you should know better. X17, you are irresponsible and repulsive.  Consider this a warning.

    Nicole Richie

                
    • http://twitter.com/brighteyesangie brighteyesangie

      Wow that’s so scary. It’s awesome that Harlow has such a protective, intelligent mother. Keep up the good work Nicole! Much love <3

    • glamazon

      I’m so sorry you have to deal with these rotten people. No parent should have to go through having their children stalked. Good for you for calling it what it is, stalking. As a mother of a little guy myself (20 months) I can totally relate to how scary that must feel. What a loving and protective mom you are!

    • jem440

      You’re amazing, Nicole!! I think it’s great that you spoke out about this. Your children are very lucky to have you!

    • jenchaughton

      I think it’s utterly outrageous the disgusting lengths the paparazzi will go to these days. It’s one thing to follow a mother and child around when they are together, it’s quite another thing to literally stalk a child at a location where she should be safe from these monsters. You tell ‘em sista!

    • Michael Shirley

      Wow, I can’t believe these perverts. You need to check more than their licenses! You should check their criminal records. I hear X17 hires lots of ex cons!!! I’d homeschool if I were you!

    • Michael Shirley

      Oh, and yeah, you rock for doing this. I wish more celebrity parents had the nerve to take the bull by the horns like you. I support you!

    • Kylie1981

      It is so horrible that you have to deal with this Nicole. Good on you for speaking your mind and letting it be known to all.

    • DCMAxQueen

      Hell hath no fury like a mother whose child is being stalked. Bravo Nicole, I have been boycotting X17 for a while, but I can assure you it will continue and I will do nothing but speak badly. I’d rather never see a picture of Harlow and Sparrow again than have them put in any danger.

      I’m so proud of you and Joel tackling this issue.

    • Ted

      Go Nicole! They are absolute scum and need to be taken down. Harlow isn’t the celebrity here…and they know that.

    • elizabeth

      It’s horrible what these paps do. I thought California passed a law about the paparrazzi following and taking pictures of celebrities at certain places. Children of celebrities should be entirely off limits. For all you know they could be pedophiles posing as paps. Go after them Nicole.

    • http://www.devinestep.blogspot.com Skunk212

      Crazy Stuff ! I wish paparazzi could get a real job and stop stalking celebs. !

    • riotgrrrl

      That’s really sick. It’s a good thing Harlow and Sparrow have such strong parents. It’s bad enough that they stalk celebs, but innocent children should be out off bounds.

    • ssreyer11

      Really at school? There should be some restrictions on Celebrity kids. You don’t want your children getting in a paranoia state of mind at a young age.

    • atarijen

      As a fan, we think your kids are adorable, BUT we don’t look up pictures of them. We are checking out photos of your unique style and public appearances. Why don’t the paps get this?

    • http://www.StephenAlexander.net StephenDavis

      Are you really calling someone else “irresponsible and repulsive”? Mirror time?

    • katsa1981

      What an unbelievable hypocrite you are. You didn’t mind taking $$$$ from X17 photographers and inviting them into your home to take pictures of your kids when they were born.. What about that day at the park? On a walk in the stroller? The list of set ups you did goes on and on. Pathetic.

    • http://www.thecelebritytruth.com TheCelebrityTruth

      Hi Nicole,

      I’m not sure if you read these comments but we started a site 4 years ago called http://www.TheCelebrityTruth.com and our mission statement is No Gossip, No Lies and No Paparazzi.

      We were sick of the gossip/paparazzi sites and wanted to prove an entertainment website can give people their daily fix, without the need to destroy lives and celebrities privacy.

      If you get the chance, please check us out.

      David Christopher

    • IcyNova

      Lmao Go Nicole! Remind me not to get you mad. Um just a question here… isn’t Harlow only turning 3 in January? Why is she in school??

    • Dashenka

      IcyNova,
      My son is 3, he goes to pre-school. Likely the same for her daughter.

    • http://www.agenceginetteachim.com/artistes/hommes/jolicoeur_clermont/index_en.html Frenchbeluga

      Dear beautiful Nicole Richie! All my respect and intelligence to collaborate with you for children’s health and safety. I admire you so much, There is no limit to be creative to fight against stupidity. I think you are extremely courageous and right on. If I was X17, I’d be now on the net checking for a Neptune flights, for some vacation, meditation, introspection and/or the good words to repare half of his mistake. This letter you assume is a love proof for a child. You daughter will always remember and will be forever strong like you. Not only your daughter will remember, us all and the children of the world. Emotional sensibility is the highest. Today I’m focused like never before!!! CONGRADULATION NICOLE! If someone asks me who changes the world for a better place, Nicole Richie will be the first. I’m all with you, stay the same and thank you so much for being courageous like you are, you fill my heart with good power, hope, confidence to protect constant hapiness in our lifes. To children’s futur and lengendary moms!! All the best to your beautiful familly! You deserve peace always! Have a nice day! Love! Bye! Yahooo! : )))) XXX

    • xyz123

      To katsa1981 – you can’t be that ignorant. There’s a difference between responsible reporting and stalking. Camping out taking pictures of minors is illegal everywhere the last time I checked. Just because the offspring is from someone in the public eye doesn’t give you special rights to violate the law. Inviting press to your home to take pictures, an agreement from both parties = legal. Stalking children anywhere = illegal. See the difference? If not, then you are more stupid than you sound. I so look forward to laws finally being passed to stop the unlawful type of behavior from photographers. You ruin your own industry. Be responsible, stop chasing celebs on streets causing accidents, stop stalking children. Do what you do from a distance (you do have a high powered zoom on that fancy lens right?). Get your pic and move the fuck on.

    • http://twitter.com/misstonix MissTonix

      Wow, you do not deserve this at all Nicole! They should all think clearly about what they’re doing because I remember when I heard you were in that car accident and I was literally terrified because I didn’t know if you were going to be okay or not.. thankfully, it wasn’t as serious of a crash as I thought… but it COULD of been! Young children shouldn’t be exposed to this sort of behaviour from grown men anyway. Plus, it’s not just Harlow…. it’s all of the other children who attend that school as well who are in “danger”… :(

      And xyz123 is RIGHT!

    • http://www.myspace.com/sweet_malissia missy_m

      GOOD FOR U!!! Hopefully, laws will soon be in place to go after these loons. There is nothing more important than protecting your little ones. Blessings to you and your family. You’ve grown so much, from a seemingly wild child (which you are allotted in your younger years) to a beautiful woman and fantastic mother from what I can see. I don’t know you or presume to know your life, however, I do know about children and the Hollywood life. Keep the faith, these bastards will eventually be handled. It’s amazing how money distorts and corrupts the human being.

    • LuckyStarz

      Yes! Thank you! I love how you have always been a strong independent female, and this just confirms it! It’s so wonderful to see you turn your life around! You are a great role model! Keep up the good work!

    • L.A. Girl

      Dear Nicole,

      My heart goes out to you. I live near where Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson lived when they were together. Every single day, my family had to endure driving through a gauntlet of paparazzi. Every morning, these thugs would take photos of my husband and son on the way to school, “just in case” they were “somebody.” I say “thugs” because if any of you out there have encountered or seen these “people” just once, people who stalk children, terrorize families and haunt people in their private moments, you would immediately call the police. However, celebrities do not have that recourse – yet. Laws need to be passed to protect celebrities and their families in what should be private moments. The intention of the writers of the Constitution did not intend that Freedom of Press would mean loss of liberty, but for celebrities, it sadly does. Nicole, I send you lauds for you and your husband confronting these people and not standing for this any longer. Someone needs to stop this insanity and though I don’t know you, I and many others send you support and strength in stopping what it is simply harassment and a loss of common decency in our society. You and your family deserve to be free and private when you choose to be. Good luck to you!! Don’t give up this fight!

    • tippi215

      Nicole, I feel the same way! I have a 17 month old baby boy and I wouldn’t want anyone lurking outside his school waiting to take pictures. I have felt for a long time that the paparazzi has gone to far. It’s one thing to “stalk” celebrities it’s something else to do it to their children. If this was a “non celebrity” we have the law on our side to stop this. I feel that there should be some type of law in place for all children. I hope you continue to fight this and hope the laws change soon. I’m behind you 100% good luck!

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=1505460058 jereddavis

      This disgusts me. Do all you can and things will work out for the best. Keep up the great work of being an amazing role model to me and your children/ other fans! :)

    • hippiechicky

      as a mom…that is so disturbing. I hope you guys can do something about this.
      btw….what is so entertaining about a kid going to school? don’t they have other people to stalk at 8am? you would think there would be a law to protect not only you guys but the other families at this school. hope it all works out!!

    • LiesAngeles

      Nicole,
      Being a celebrity is a double edged sword. There are times when you need/want your privacy and then there are times when you need/want a photo to promote a product that pays for those thousand dollar purses. I have lived in the “area” for quite some time and remember you from way back when you lived in the Tall building in Weho. (not gonna name the street).

      I am now a paparazzi photographer who enjoys taking pics of celebrities as long as it is done with respect and not detriment. Even though a large percentage of paps do things that they should not, there are some that find shame in those areas and will not venture into them.

      I have actually found you and Joel at El Compadre restaurant one night and waited outside for a photo. You and Joel came out and looked upset after seeing my camera. Remember that night? I told you that I did not want to upset you and that if you did not want your photo taken that I would not take it. I did not either and introduced myself.

      Taking pictures of Kids at night is the worst thing imaginable in my eyes because of the flash and the chance that someone could be blinded and drop their kid. I also feel that lurching at a school is creepy and worthy of a huge fine.
      Not all paparazzi feel or act the same way as the ones you have described. There is a small percentage out there but we are out there.

      I am in total agreeance with you and your letter and wanted you to know.
      As a pap, I think the best point you stated was the need for background checks. I cannot believe that this has not been addressed yet by lawmakers and celebs due to the close proximity that we coinhabit. Hell, I would be happy to show mine if it meant a great pic of you and Joel with smiles on your faces!!!

      You have been lucky to have a blessed family and the means to support them at such a young age due in part to your “celebrity” status. I hope you find the happy medium in which you can smile and still retain the privacy for you and your family while maintaining your celebrity status.

    • michelle

      I have the same opinion on these things,You’re a wonderful mother. Go Nicole!
      Love! Have Nice Day!
      Michelle

    • emette

      Nicole,
      Your letter and promise to x17 is a good start. I think you can do better.

      Do you believe it should be legal to take the photo of any child below the age of 18 and sell this photo for money without the consent of the child’s parent? I do not believe this should be legal.

      You can take this issue to court, if you truly believe that children should be off limits, whether with the parent or not. Stalking any child at school or anywhere else, no matter who or where the parent is, should be considered a criminal act.

      I also do not believe in the “public person” excuse given by paparazzi and magazines; I don’t think that a person’s job of singing songs or reciting lines or selling products to the masses or being well-known to many people gives this person the title of “public person” or gives anyone the right to invade this person’s space and publicize what should be a private life. The president is the only person I can think of who may be considered a “public person,” and I don’t think he should be hounded by paparazzi all day or any day.

      If people choose to allow themselves to be photographed, and there is a contract for this, that is fine. If no one allowed it, it should not be legal.

      I hope you do something. I know that if I was in your position, I would have been to court years ago.

      Good luck to you, no matter what you decide.

    • misaki

      Hello, Nicole!
      I’m Japanese and 19 girl. I don’t have a child yet but I luv them.
      I also luv u and ur family. When I marry someday, I would try to protect own family cuz luvig them.
      Ur famous all of the world but u have private. They must behave reasonably more!!!!
      Sorry for bad grammar:(
      luv u<3

    • ashleyann

      good for you… its comp. ridic how they stalk you and other celebs.

    • http://web.me.com/pmbernacki/pehn-phencer.net pehn-phencer.com

      I learned as a 7th grade boy why it wasn’t wise to get in a car with a stranger. I vowed to never tell even my best friend or my parents. Back in the 70s, there wasn’t even a vocabulary word to describe what’s on every news cast and newspaper today. Not getting help was the biggest mistake I could have made, because I was not equipped to deal with it alone. My own erratic behavior, suicide attempts, and drug and alcohol problems at an early age gave away all my secrets one way or another. My mom has always been the one who has been there for me even if no one else was. Your kids will forever value you for doing whatever you can to protect them.

      Thank God I didn’t have paparazzi following me around during the most vulnerable times of my life; and especially that only my hometown friends and family were the only ones who knew when I made the biggest mistakes in my life. Just growing up in a middle class neighborhood in a small midwestern town was enough pressure.

      I don’t know how celebrities deal with the over-scrutiny. I admire those who have to face everyday life and more difficult times in the public spotlight. I’ve always secretly dreamed of being recognized and admired (from a comfortable distance) for whatever gifts and talents I may have. But I must admit, it’s comforting to be able to sleep nights knowing that TMZ really doesn’t care whether I shower and shave before I walk to Walgreens to buy a pack of cigarettes tomorrow morning.

      Kids aren’t the only ones who need to have their privacy. How Paris and Lindsey survived all the media during their struggles demonstrates their inner strength. They’ll both come out on top. It’s amazing how hypocritical we humans can be. Justice for everyone else, but mercy for me! I’d love to see some reality clips of newscasters and gossip goblins in their worst moments. Don’t let the vultures and buzzards of the world matter.

      Even Jesus only had a special steel-toed boot for one group of people–the self-righteous hypocrites who lorded it over the weaker ones. He never came down hard on the sinners.

      All monkeys were created equal–but not all have evolved at the same pace.

    • Moonraker32

      Paparazzi for a 3 year old? that is sick, the adults I can understand to a degree, as they are famous not the children, these people need a life, and should be treated equal to the predators who have to register online. Being famous shouldn’t make stalking a child acceptable.

    • recrawfo0233

      Wow! You are such a bad ass Nicole! That is ridiculously creepster status and something that should not be tolerated.

    • emette

      You might want to do something about this paparazzi problem sooner rather than later. Being stalked and chased and not knowing if someone is watching you all the time is not a way to live.

      Flying Paparazzi Drones to Track Celebrities From Above
      by Amar Toor on November 5, 2010 at 09:50 AM
      http://www.switched.com/2010/11/05/C3paparazzo-paparazzi-drone-splash-news/?icid=maing|main5|7|link6|23766

      Today’s high-profile celebrities may have perfected the art of avoiding paparazzi on the streets of Beverly Hills, but they might want to turn their attention skyward, as well. That’s because celebrity photo agency Splash News is developing a camera-equipped drone aircraft to track the rich and famous from above. “It would strike fear in the hearts of every celebrity having a birthday party,” Splash chief executive Gary Morgan tells the Wall Street Journal. “Call it C3paparazzo.”

      Fortunately for Hollywood luminaries, FAA regulations currently prohibit private companies from flying drones domestically. But there is a loophole; the federal agency hasn’t yet taken a hard stance on recreational drones, which can be purchased online, or built at home with materials available on the Web. The FAA “recommends” that these drones remain at an elevation below 400 feet, and that they stay away from airports and other commercial craft, but it has yet to implement more stringent regulations. This gray area could provide an easy way for lawyers to justify the use of amateur drones to track celebrities, or even cheating husbands.

      It’s still unclear which route the FAA will take. Concerns from privacy advocates and watchdogs could very well spur tighter restrictions on drone use, but the agency may also hesitate to curtail something that’s quickly become a burgeoning private industry. Because software and hardware designs are now widely available online, many amateur aviation enthusiasts have begun developing their own drones, and are collectively advancing the technology. It may be only a matter of time, then, before unmanned airborne paparazzi become a reality — and before someone like Gary Busey starts investing in surface-to-air missiles.