OlderBrad & Angelina: Water Fountain
Photogs’ appetites whetted: ‘Most anticipated baby since Jesus‘
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have an entire government on their side in the latest celebrity vs. paparazzi skirmish as they await the birth of their child in seclusion at a resort in Namibia.
The Namibian Embassy in Pretoria tells journalists seeking visas for Namibia to cover the birth of the eagerly awaited celebrity baby that they must have permission from Pitt and Jolie in writing before they will be allowed into the country.
The government, which has seen its profile as a tourist destination increased by the celebrity visit, has arrested photographers, confiscated film, set up large green barriers on the beach to shield the couple and their children Zahara and Maddox, ringed the hotel with heavy security and threatened to expel any journalist trying to cover the birth without the parents’ permission.
"This lady is expecting," Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula was quoted as telling South Africa’s Sunday Times last month. "You guys are harassing her. Why don’t you allow her some privacy? Harassment is not allowed in Namibia."
(Continued after the jump)
Interest has heightened in recent weeks as photographers anticipated the due date was near. It escalated Tuesday when an e-mail Pitt sent to the Cannes Film Festival and read to reporters there said he was unable to attend because of the baby’s "imminent arrival."
Darryn Lyons, the chairman of Big Pictures, which runs Mr. Paparazzi.com, said in London that the two stars are certain to gain more attention by taking up residence in a poor corner of Africa then they would in the United States.
"I don’t think they could have given the people more of an appetite to see the new creature," said Lyons, referring to the decision to hole up in Namibia. "It is the most anticipated baby since Jesus Christ."
"They would have been more discreet sitting in Malibu," he said. "I don’t know why they’re going to all this ridiculous trouble."
Before Pitt and Jolie took up residence at a luxury hotel on the Namibian coast, the government never required that journalists get permission from private citizens — foreign or otherwise — to obtain a visa.
John Liebengerg, a South African magazine photographer, was arrested Wednesday for a second time in less than a week for trying to take pictures of the couple at a restaurant.
The arrest was condemned by the South African National Editors Forum.
"The forum believes citizens have a right to privacy, however journalists also have a right to be able to do their jobs without unfair hindrance or intimidation," the forum said in a statement.
South Africa’s Sunday Times said last month its own photographer and three French photographers were ordered to leave Namibia or face arrest.
Lyons said he has a team in place in Namibia, but that none of his photographers have been arrested. He added someone — perhaps even the midwife — with a small camera or one built into their mobile phone stood to make a lot of money.
"You could probably buy Namibia with that picture," he said, estimating the first picture of Pitt and Jolie’s baby would be worth $5 million.
Namibia, a country half the size of Alaska, is rich in diamonds and strategic metals, but most of its 1.8 million people are poor. – AP
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Course it would sure be nice if TIME would stop being so reticent and just TELL US SOMETHING! SORRY… Im really getting too involved in this baby thing.. if he or she doesnt hurry up and arrive, Im going to lose my job. Im supposed to be working but I cant stay off the net.
# 150 | Passing Through - lol, there is like so many stories out there its amazing. I just want her to have the baby and to have a safe delivery, but the waiting is killing me :)
Passing Through, just when I’m questioning why the hell I’m still on this site when I should have gone to bed or done laundry or both a long time ago, you come along and make me laugh and remind me why I find you all so addictive!Thanks for that!
# 151 | Ivy - you are funny lol
You know, this might be a sign im staying on this site too long but…I knew that I was reading a post from #150 PT after just a few words.. and i can usually tell a African Girl post before seeing her name. Getting close to knowing a Guli post when I read it also.
At least with the Star they’d give you some drama about what the complications is….like Angie’s afraid her hips will spread too far and she’ll have saddle-bag thighs for the rest of her life. InTouch has no flair for the dramatic whatsoever. # 150 | Passing ThroughLmao…..Don’t you just love the star?
#154 Alexanderina|thanks.. lol you gotta laugh sometimes…helps with easing the babywatch anxiety. : )
# 155 | IvyTrust me, you are not alone. that’s why it’s really easy to spot interlopers
# 145 | African Girl AG - here’s a couple of things you can do real quickly to speed the computer up -1.Delete your IE temp files. If you don’t know how - got to TOOLS/OPTIONS. On the first tab, in the middle of the dialog box you’ll see the Temp folder. Click DELETE FILES. In the dialog box that opens, at the bottom you’ll see a little check box. Click there to select the option to "delete all offline content".2. Delete your other Windows temp files. Go to Documents and SettingsUsernameLocal SettingsTemp. You’ll want to show the dates on the files because most likely you won’t be able to delete anything from today. Select all the time files - EDIT/SELECT ALL - then deselect any files from today - hold down the CTRL key and click on each file to deselect it. Once you’ve done that, then go ahead and delete the rest of the files.3. If all of that is too complicated for you, then on START menu, go to PROGRAMSACCESSORIESSYSTEM TOOLSDISK CLEANUP and run the Disk Cleanup utility. It’ll find all the temp files and delete them for you.4. Once you’ve gotten rid of the temp file, then Defrag your hard drive - PROGRAMSACCESSORIESSYSTEM TOOLSDISK DEFRAGMENTEROne other thing you can do is to increase the Windows virtual memory….but that may be a little more complicated. I can tell you how if you really want to know…or you can throw in the towel and take the computer to your bro tomorrow.
From the National Ledger 22 minutes ago:Breaking Report: Angelina Jolie Schedules C-Section for May 27 ——————————————————————————–By Jill AtkinsMay 26, 2006 A breaking report claims that this will be the weekend that Angelina Jolie gives birth. Angelina is scheduled to give birth by Caesarean section (C-section) tomorrow, Saturday, May 27, In Touch is reporting that it has learned exclusively.And the crowd cheers. It’s time to have this kid already. Fans and all observers alike are ready - what is this baby waiting for?***The report reveals:Although she had really wanted to have a natural birth, Angelina’s doctors are urging her to have the procedure due to a minor complication. "There’s nothing seriously wrong,” an insider says. "They are expecting it all to be routine.”Angelina, 30, is scheduled to have the C-section at a Namibian hospital, according to the insider. The father of the child, Brad Pitt, 42, is expected to be by her side.[…]The baby, a girl, will be delivered by her American ob-gyn, assisted by local doctors, the insider adds. “Everyone is very excited, Maddox in particular,” says an insider in Africa. “He knows he is getting a new baby sister, now they are telling him how soon it will be.”
# 150 | Passing Through | Oh my God, you are funny and why aren’t you posting at rumors (gitane already told so I can too). Hey girlfriend you got me in to this and until I leave for Turkey I’ll pitch in, but you are great and we want more. Remember, I’m your side kick :)
# 157 | Ivy - I hope the baby comes this weekend or anytime soon, I think waiting for the baby kind of taken over our lives :) I find myself wanting to me on the computer every 10 minutes for any news and my boyfriend thinking am nuts
# 148 | Passing Throughthank you. writing these fics is all-consuming. you get completely involved in what you’re doing and shut the rest of the world out. i was at work last night carrying around a steno pad and writing every time i had a moment to myself. i just finished reading rica’s. there’s steam coming out of my eyeballs. let’s post about x so that i can cool off.
# 155 | IvyROTFLMAO! Hey, join the club. I do the same thing. I’ll be reading along and in my head I’m saying, "OH, that’s AG…hey, Estelle’s here…That’s Guli…." Yeah…it’s kinda pathetic, ain’t it?
#162 Alexanderina| I know what you mean! MY bf works at a mental health dept. and says he can get me in for a consult anytime. LOL Gee, thanks hon…Mostly though he is a good sport. EXCEPT when I put off my work until all hours of the night.. THAT makes him a bit grouchy. ; )
# 161 | guli Guli - I’m mulling over my next step for the Rumors thread. I need to go in a new direction, but I’m not sure what yet…
# 165 | Ivy - LMAO, that is so funny
# 155 | Ivy | Hey ivy, how are you, sorry if I haven’t responded to some of your posts. Being the memorial day weekend all my kids are here and am quite busy so I don’t logon until 5 or so since I am a night owl. I just wanted to say hi. I’ll be around for another few hours switching between the two threads.
I was wishing she would have it in July so that would shut up all the haters who said she got pregnant while Brad was still "married". But if she has to have it now, then why do it when JJ is on vacation??!? lolllI want them to make some kind of statement that it wasn’t their idea to have people wanting visas have to have their personal permission. People are thinking they are acting like they are above everyone else, which is so anathema to the BAMZ ethos that it drives me crazy!
# 165 | Ivy - My boyfriend tolerates my obsession with the BAMZ+1, he told me because of us that why they are in Namibia, I was like whatever dude..
i know what you all mean. Everyone thinks i’m nuts too.
# 169 | remember da truth - JJ is going on vacation? When he is going?
The first baby normally is a long birth. My doctor warned me that I could be in labor over 36hr…she was right and the OB wanted to do a C-section, at the last minute pop she came out…so yeah….I’ll pray that she have a safe delivery and healthy baby.
Rewgarding the IN TOUCH WEEKLY BREAKING NEWS:I’ll believe it when I see it on:AOL.CNN.MSNBCAP.PEOPLEOnly time will tell. It’s 4:37am in Namibia. God I wish she would have the baby! These rumors are driving me BUGGY!!!!!!!!!!KEEP ON ROCKIN BAMZ!WAITING INPATIENTLY, PLUS ONE!
Sorry about the typo: should be REGARDING. See, I can’t even type!
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