Kanye West Arrested - Camera Abuse

[bryank930]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PEOPLE_KANYE_WEST_ARRESTED?SITE=WIMIL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Police say they have arrested Kanye West at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of vandalism after an altercation with a photographer.
An airport spokesman says police also arrested West's bodyguard shortly before 8 a.m. on Thursday.
Airport spokesman Marshall Lowe says early reports are that West got into an altercation with a commercial photographer and a camera valued at more than $10,000 was broken.
The incident happened before West and his bodyguard, who was not identified, went into a security checkpoint at the airport.
Lowe says police are continuing to interview witnesses and West may be booked later this morning.
A call to West's publicist in New York was not immediately return.

[Becca]

http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=5780531&page=1

[gary88]

Hopefully it was a Noink ;)

[nicksan]

West is an idiot. I HATE him!:lol:

Apparently he's not a real man either...has to send his body guard for the dirty work.

Who knows what happened.
It wouldn't be first time a celebrity and/or camera/videographer stepped over the line.:rolleyes:

[stathunter]

Boy am I old.......I have no clue who Kanye West is.

[nicksan]

He's an idiot...that's who he is.:lol:;)
Boy am I old.......I have no clue who Kanye West is.

[carpenter]

video
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=42598972

[Derweissehai]

Won't say hate. But I do know I do not like him. He is entitled to his opinion like the rest of us. But until he realizes he is part of this nation as well. He should be using his stature for good and not bashing the government, no matter how screwed up it is.


Besides, what did the camera ever do to him.....steal his soul? lol

[thomascanty]

Meh...

I couldn't care less. Though, I am kind of curious about what kind of camera that was. Valued at over $10,000?

[e.omega]

Thats terrible. He didnt have to smash the dudes camera.

[20DNewbie]

Yup, he's a tool.

[Michael_Lambert]

A 1DS mark III with a EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM and you are sitting pretty close to the $10,000 mark

[Becca]

Meh...

I couldn't care less. Though, I am kind of curious about what kind of camera that was. Valued at over $10,000?

That's sort of the way I felt about it, too. But I did wonder at what camera it was! Regardless, it would be a shame to damage any camera (even one of the "other" ones!)

[theague]

I didn't see any yellow on the camera strap.. :(

[CameraLens]

Maybe they should have just given him a Klondike bar. :D

[3Turner]

Though that photographer may have been told numerous times to stop, he had NO RIGHT to smash the camera like that. It appeared that they were at the airport terminal, they should have gone to someone in authority and told them to handle the situation with the photographer.....not smash the camera...even if it were a Nikon. I'm glad he is getting charged with a felony....serves him right. He should get a restraining order like all the other celebrities that are bothered by the paparazzi if this guy had been bothering him often.

[Maxxum5]

I don't know why someone feels a need to shove a camera in another guy's face anyways. Regardless of his "fame" or who he is.....He is still just another person.

However, if that boy got that close to me and pulled that crap, I would have punched him in the face while he was grabbing my camera....a few times....and sent him on his plane ride with a fat lip. And that other guy didn't look so big to be a body guard. More like a travelling companion, buddy, or the sort.


But then again, I wouldn't be standing there clicking away meddling with his personal life either. I would have respectfully asked to get a few pics, and if he said no, I wouldn't think twice and just went and got some new gossip pics of Britney Spears. Hahahaha

[DigitalSpecialist]

StatHunter, the only reason I have any inkling as to who Kanye is is that I have teenagers in my home. Otherwise I could care less!

[lilminijpc]

yup, just read if off of bbc.com

if you think about it, $10K of gear, in terms of the paparazzi, isn't all that much gear.... a few high end tele lenses, some flashes and a 1-Ds mark iii body, etc... :-\ but in the end, some good gear got trashed...

ah well... im sure they can afford to replace it. :-p

[carpenter]

I don't know why someone feels a need to shove a camera in another guy's face anyways. Regardless of his "fame" or who he is.....He is still just another person.


he makes his living sticking his camera in people's faces. He's not just "another person" Just "another person" wouldn't get him $$$ for his photo.




However, if that boy got that close to me and pulled that crap, I would have punched him in the face while he was grabbing my camera....a few times....and sent him on his plane ride with a fat lip.


and you'd have been in jail and had a 6 figure lawsuit against you.

some of these photogs are WELL over the top and downright disrespectful asses, but if you blow your cool like that you will not only be costing yourself a hefty sum of money, you are giving them exactly what they want. your $100 photo just turned into a $1000 photo or more. Plenty of the scummy paparazzi will try to antagonize celebs into fighting or outlandish behavior.

[440roadrunner]

I dunooo, I gotta tell you guys, whether you like a particular actor/ artist/ scumbag/ etc or not, there SHOULD really be some mitigating laws to protect people from the constant clickety click. You see ANY of the Horrywood tripe, these guys block the streets, flash people's eyes in their cars at night, it's a mess.

Ya know if I got "up in your face" the way some of these photog's do, I'm sure sooner than later I'd get punched. There HAS to be some middle ground.

[CubsAngel]

I feel slightly bad for the paparazzi but only because he got his equipment trashed. Equipment he more than likely bought himself (i could be wrong). I do agree that there need to be more rules/laws in place for the paparazzi.. as much as I despise celebrities, it is a bit unfair, IMO

But yes, Kanye should have kept his temper in check. No matter who you are, doesn't make it right to harass someone. He should have gone to authority, but maybe he believes he's above authority. I'm glad he's getting punished for this, he needs to be brought back down to earth.

[zacker]

what i cant understand is this... whos paying for these shots and why?? there would be no paparazzi if these scumbag rags like natl inquierer and all the rest stopped buying these photos for their untrue stories. there are probably tons of legit ways to get photos... i see these photos of like Brad pitt walking on the sidewalk drinking a coffee and cant help but think..."who cares?" I mean, i drink coffee, big whoopie!!

[carpenter]

what i cant understand is this... whos paying for these shots and why?? there would be no paparazzi if these scumbag rags like natl inquierer and all the rest stopped buying these photos for their untrue stories. there are probably tons of legit ways to get photos... i see these photos of like Brad pitt walking on the sidewalk drinking a coffee and cant help but think..."who cares?" I mean, i drink coffee, big whoopie!!

I agree. I don't understand the fascination with celebs. The mags pay for the shots because it's what sells to the readers. Why these readers are so obsessed I really can't answer.

[Tsmith]

Maybe he'll have to shower with Big Bubba while in the slammer.

[DStanic]

I was watching a think on TV about the paparazzi and Britany Spears. They just shoot in JPG and nail off as many photos as possible, so that they can send them to magazines or whatever ASAP. The way they followed her and stuff it was like a bunch of wolves!!

[JWright]

Meh...

I couldn't care less. Though, I am kind of curious about what kind of camera that was. Valued at over $10,000?

A 1DS mark III with a EF 85mm f/1.2 L II USM and you are sitting pretty close to the $10,000 mark

I saw the video on tonight's news and there is no way that camera the bodyguard smashed was a Series 1. It looked more like a 40D (or similar) with a kit lens. Even with a flash, there is no way the photographer's gear was worth $10,000.

I'm not condoning what West did. There is no reason for celebrities, or anyone else for that matter, to vandalize a photographer's equipment if they don't like what he's doing. Remember the photographer that was attacked by surfers on the beach in Malibu because he was taking pictures of Matthew McConaughey surfing?

[jedi1354]

i heared the 10k mark and figured
1dsmk3
unless pap's use medium format digital

[shavedaccord]

I hope he does some time. He's an arrogant asshat.

[bills_pix]

Hopefully it was a Noink ;)
A Nikon would not have disintegrated like that. Nope, I believe it was a Canon.:p

[zacker]

he wouldnt have to break a Noink, it will fall apart on their own..

[wallybud]

I agree. I don't understand the fascination with celebs. The mags pay for the shots because it's what sells to the readers. Why these readers are so obsessed I really can't answer.

You wouldn't believeee how many people care about this crap, and most of them in secret...like they would never say anything about it and if you mention something about a celeb they all of a sudden know the back story/lifestory/and all the other stories ;)

When I go shopping people can't help but pick up a celeb mag while on line to buy food and a lot of them most likely purchase it...:rolleyes:

[wallybud]

I saw the video on tonight's news and there is no way that camera the bodyguard smashed was a Series 1. It looked more like a 40D (or similar) with a kit lens. Even with a flash, there is no way the photographer's gear was worth $10,000.

I'm not condoning what West did. There is no reason for celebrities, or anyone else for that matter, to vandalize a photographer's equipment if they don't like what he's doing. Remember the photographer that was attacked by surfers on the beach in Malibu because he was taking pictures of Matthew McConaughey surfing?

watch it on tmz.com they have like HD quality haha it was def not a 40D?! it was a 1Series and I think while the photog and kanye wrestled the photog hit the button and popped the lens off to keep

you can see kanye smash what I though was a lens but if you look (like someone else pointed out) its DEF a speedlight...

[JJD.Photography]

Boy am I old.......I have no clue who Kanye West is.

Just a racist prick with the intelligence level of an 4 year old.

To bad the photographers weren't able to stand up for themselves. I would of loved to seen Kanye's head smashed into the concrete like the camera :cool:

[BIG H]

Hope the photog has insurance!

[carpenter]

Hope the photog has insurance!


If he don't, it's not like he won't win a court case. Doubt they would even go to court. Would be a lot easier to just settle out of court.

[JWright]

No matter what kind of camera was smashed or what it was worth, all this incident did was to reinforce the perception among some people, myself included, that rappers are hoodlums. Great role model for young kids...

[carpenter]

Great role model for young kids...

Rappers aren't supposed to be role models for kids anyway. Just because they are in entertainment doesn't make them have to cater to the ideals of YOUNG kids.

I don't agree with what he did and he needs to be held accountable, but he doesn't need to be a role model to anyone.

[nicksan]

That's a cop out.

If you are in the public limelight selling millions of records, selling out arenas, mostly to the younger generation, then that's irresponsible behaviour. I hear that excuse all the time like how some dude came from the streets and "telling it how it is" or "keeping it real".

Kids eat this crap right up...it's laughable but why are we even wondering? Most people don't know any better. That's just the way it is. I think we give way too much credit or benefit of the doubt to the general public.



Rappers aren't supposed to be role models for kids anyway. Just because they are in entertainment doesn't make them have to cater to the ideals of YOUNG kids.

I don't agree with what he did and he needs to be held accountable, but he doesn't need to be a role model to anyone.

[audit]

From TMZ.com

Law enforcement sources told TMZ, at the time of the arrest, Kanye could be charged with felony vandalism. But here's what we know. The still camera that was broken is a Canon D40 -- retail price $1429.96. In California, someone who criminally damages property worth more than $400 can be prosecuted for felony vandalism.

But here's the rub: look closely at the video. Kanye and the bodyguard wrestle the camera away from the photog, but the bodyguard ends up with the camera ... Kanye is holding the light unit. We did some checking and found the light unit is only worth around $100, so here's the irony -- the bodyguard could be processed for a felony, but not Kanye.

BTW -- It was the bodyguard, not Kanye that broke our cam (retail value: $7000).

If Kanye is prosecuted at all, it's likely it would be for a misdemeanor. But prosecuting a celebrity where the victim is a paparazzo -- good luck, Mr. City Attorney.

[zacker]

wasnt this the guy who ran up onstage at the grammys a few years back and grabbed the mic from someone making their speech and started going on about how he should have won and he was passed over by the industry.. blahh blahh blahh... "Whaaaaa, I didnt win the grammy Whaaaaa" this guy obviously has the mentality of a two year old, maybe he just needs to go back to where ever he came from and grow up!

[zacker]

Ahh haa it was the MTV awards....

"After not winning any awards at the VMAs in 2007 despite several nominations, West declared to reporters that he would never return to MTV. The year before, he crashed the stage at the MTV Europe Music Awards and unleashed an expletive-filed tirade after his video "Touch The Sky" failed to win an award."

[nicksan]

I told you...he's an idiot...just wasting the oxygen he breathes.

[carpenter]

That's a cop out.

If you are in the public limelight selling millions of records, selling out arenas, mostly to the younger generation, then that's irresponsible behaviour. I hear that excuse all the time like how some dude came from the streets and "telling it how it is" or "keeping it real".

Kids eat this crap right up...it's laughable but why are we even wondering? Most people don't know any better. That's just the way it is. I think we give way too much credit or benefit of the doubt to the general public.


It's not a cop out.. it comes from parenting. Teach your kids the difference between right and wrong and what's acceptable or not and they will choose better role models. Just because you have a niche and are good at what you do doesn't mean you have to be a role model to little kids. Never heard anyone actually say they felt rappers should be role models. They aren't nor will they ever be. Teach your kids to look elsewhere for role models.
There is a HUGE difference to being a role model to YOUNG Kids vs the kids that are going to concerts that are sold out. If you are attending a rap concert you are old enough to make your own decisions and not be influenced by what some rapper does.
It all comes down to parenting.

[stathunter]

Too bad no real celebrities here in Michigan. I would seriously become a paparazzi. I would gladly let some moron with a few bucks smash my camera--- the photographer will win in this one. I know a guy that had this happen to him by a celeb in Ca and he is retired now.

[3Turner]

{SNIP}
There is a HUGE difference to being a role model to YOUNG Kids vs the kids that are going to concerts that are sold out. If you are attending a rap concert you are old enough to make your own decisions and not be influenced by what some rapper does.
It all comes down to parenting.
Unless of course the parent is the one taking the child to the sold out concerts and sitting right next to the child :rolleyes: Unbelievable, but it happens....a local radio station jockey was complaining about that one day after a sold out concert because he had to sit next to a minor at a concert that in the past would have been only adults. :lol: Times are changing.

[nicksan]

In a perfect world, perhaps what you write here makes sense, however that's the not the world we live in today.

I completely agree that it is the parent's responsibility to manage what their kids are exposed to. However it's getting more difficult than before b/c of the information age and all the garbage out there. You can't go anywhere without being exposed to this stuff. Short of living in a hole, your kids will be exposed to this stuff in one way or another.

There has to be some accountability beyond the parents because most parents don't spend 24/7 with their children. Maybe they should. I don't know. Sounds tough to lock it down like that....

Without the fans, many of them young kids, these "artists" would not be where there are today. They are probably too stupid and selfish to realize that but that's the truth. As such, they have a certain responsibility to the public and it is a cop out to make excuses about not asking to be role models. Well then stop being in the public limelight, stop taking the money and crawl back in whatever hole you came from!

The industry and artists knows what sells. Might as well be crack/cocaine. The public, being the ignorant bunch, snatches it right up. The way I see it, they are no better than drug dealers. Instead of selling drugs, they are selling violence, sex, being disrespectful to women, etc...all wrapped up in CD's, MP3's, MTV, VH1, etc...


It's not a cop out.. it comes from parenting. Teach your kids the difference between right and wrong and what's acceptable or not and they will choose better role models. Just because you have a niche and are good at what you do doesn't mean you have to be a role model to little kids. Never heard anyone actually say they felt rappers should be role models. They aren't nor will they ever be. Teach your kids to look elsewhere for role models.
There is a HUGE difference to being a role model to YOUNG Kids vs the kids that are going to concerts that are sold out. If you are attending a rap concert you are old enough to make your own decisions and not be influenced by what some rapper does.
It all comes down to parenting.

[Luminodio]

well, i do know that he is an avid Canon shooter so...perhaps Canonite pride against a serf hailing from Noinkshire?

i'll have to watch the video and update this remark, i'm sure.

[neil_r]

I told you...he's an idiot...just wasting the oxygen breathes.

That is strange, he talks very highly of you ;-)

[nicksan]

He probably told you my grammer isn't quite up to speed too...:(
That is strange, he talks very highly of you ;-)

[audit]

Too bad no real celebrities here in Michigan

Actually Kid Rock lives about 20 minutes from me. I've seen him a lot over the years. When he was dating that plastic Pam Anderson, there were all kinds of people with P&S's trying to get pictures. Robbie is a cool guy, we've talked to him a few times out in Ortonville at the Bull Frog, he just acts like one of the normal people.

[manutd101]

Holy ^&%$! I figured that it was just a little scuffle and the camera got dropped...The bodyguard hurls that 40D, and Kanye does a number on the flash :shock:

[FocalPrincess]

Ugh, while both sides were wrong...eh, I'll just go with ugh.

[neil_r]

A $10,000 camera would have made a more impressive "Thunk!" as it hit the deck.

[JWright]

From TMZ.com

"Law enforcement sources told TMZ, at the time of the arrest, Kanye could be charged with felony vandalism. But here's what we know. The still camera that was broken is a Canon D40 -- retail price $1429.96. In California, someone who criminally damages property worth more than $400 can be prosecuted for felony vandalism.

But here's the rub: look closely at the video. Kanye and the bodyguard wrestle the camera away from the photog, but the bodyguard ends up with the camera ... Kanye is holding the light unit. We did some checking and found the light unit is only worth around $100, so here's the irony -- the bodyguard could be processed for a felony, but not Kanye.

BTW -- It was the bodyguard, not Kanye that broke our cam (retail value: $7000).

If Kanye is prosecuted at all, it's likely it would be for a misdemeanor. But prosecuting a celebrity where the victim is a paparazzo -- good luck, Mr. City Attorney."

I said there was no way that photographer's camera was worth $10,000...

[Luminodio]

I said there was no way that photographer's camera was worth $10,000...
think it was a 40D?

[Oneslowz28]

After the remarks Kanye has made about this country and the way he preaches racism and hate I feel no sorrow for him. Karma came and bit him in the rear end last year. I honestly think he needs to be either locked up for life or kicked out of the country for his remarks.

[carpenter]

I honestly think he needs to be either locked up for life or kicked out of the country for his remarks.

??? I don't like the guy either, but you can't be serious. He has a human right (1st amendment) to speak his mind no matter how dumb it makes him look.

[Oneslowz28]

I am serious and I am a firm believer in patriotism. In my mind repeatedly bad mouthing ones country is treason and should be governed by treason laws. He has stated in several interviews that he "hates and despises" this country. One should never speak badly about his/her country that gives it so much.

[AndreaBFS]

Forget being a role model for kids. Most celebrities are barely modeling acceptable *adult* behavior, let alone anything I'd want my kids to emulate. This situation just supports that -- no one should be idolizing this guy regardless of age.

I don't get the obsession with celebrities. The problem is that his type adores this attention. If he didn't have people following him around with cameras he'd be flipping out wondering why and firing his publicist because he isn't getting enough attention.

There are plenty of bigtime celebrities who are not hounded by the press *at all* because they simply do not thrive on that type of attention. It's really all in the celeb's court. I have no sympathy for him.

[neil_r]

I am serious and I am a firm believer in patriotism. In my mind repeatedly bad mouthing ones country is treason and should be governed by treason laws. He has stated in several interviews that he "hates and despises" this country. One should never speak badly about his/her country that gives it so much.

An interesting point of view, that could be a great starting point for discussion were that allowed on this forum.

I will say this however. Patriotism is fine as long as it is not blind. Would you have had the same view of your country had you been unlucky enough to have been born into Hitler's Germany, Sadam's Iraq or Mao's China.

Love your country, but please don't blindly follow what your governments enforce, as that is not always in the best interest of the country you love.

[T.D.]

I think this thread has gone just about as far as it can within the bounds of the forum rules.