How The ‘Paparazzi’ Culture Was Born Out Of A Superstar’s Extramarital Affair

Paparazzi culture is on the rise. For fans, they’re like a blessing, feeding our curiosity about every detail of our favorite celebrities’ lives—where they are, who they’re with, and what they’re doing. But for celebrities, the paparazzi can be a walking nightmare. While they may help stars stay in the public eye, they can also be incredibly intrusive, as we’ve seen many times. Remember when they secretly clicked Alia Bhatt when she was home alone? Or when Malika Arora’s father passed away and how they wanted to get the perfect shot? That was definitely over the line.

But do you know how this whole “paparazzi” phenomenon began or where the term originated? Well, we’ve got the scoop for you.

The Origin of The Term ‘Paparazzo’

The term “paparazzo” originated from Federico Fellini’s 1960 film La Dolce Vita. In it was a character named “Paparazzo”, a bold, persistent photographer, who captured the lives of celebrities and high-profile individuals–often without their permission. In Italian, “paparazzo” doesn’t have a particular meaning, but Fellini reportedly chose the name because it sounded like the buzzing of a mosquito – an apt word for how these photographers would “buzz” around their subjects, invasive yet persistent.

Soon after, paparazzi photography became a global phenomenon, particularly as the film industry and Hollywood culture grew. They started using the term as a pseudonym for the people who clicked celebrity pictures–particularly with the aim of selling those pictures.

What Gave it A Boost?

Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were two of the world’s most famous actors in the 1960s, highest paid and coveted by every director. However, while working together on the film Cleopatra, rumors of their affair began circulating. In America’s more conservative era, such rumours were shocking, especially since both were married—Burton to Sybil Williams and Taylor to Eddie Fisher. However, they denied the affair, insisting they were just co-stars.

That changed in 1963 when they went on a secret holiday to Italy. While relaxing on a yacht—Burton in swimming trunks and Taylor in a bikini—they were photographed engaging in PDA. The black-and-white photos went viral globally, sparking a scandal so intense that some U.S. leaders even called for them to be banned from the country.

The incident marked a turning point, making it nearly impossible for celebrities to separate their personal and professional lives. The media realised the public’s fascination with celebrities’ off-screen lives. This intensified when some outlets were willing to pay loads of money for such exclusive shots.

Now, decades later, the paparazzi culture is only growing. However, the concerning part is how the line between just reporting and invasion of privacy is increasingly blurred. While some stories may genuinely be newsworthy, some moments make you question if intruding on a celebrity’s life—who, at the end of the day, are just humans—is truly worth it.

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