Amanda in 2009
Do you remember when Britney Spears was losing it before her big head-shaving umbrella incident, and when she used to drive around aimlessly for hours and talk in a British accent? She had a weird symbiotic relationship with the paparazzi hoard that was following her, and she even dated a paparazzo for a while. (And there were inevitable sex tape stories, but I digress.) That’s what I’m reminded of when I see the video (at this link) of Amanda Bynes going off on a photographer. The guy is bugging the crap out of her and is super rude, as they are. Amanda tries to reason with him and asks him to delete a photo she thinks is unflattering. It’s hard to tell exactly what’s happening, but then she poses for him, a scuffle happens and she tries to grab his camera. At the end of the clip he accuses her of scratching his neck with those talon nails of hers. (I think they’re fierce actually, I would do that with my nails!) It bothered me to see, because it seems like she’s having mental issues when she talks about how she doesn’t like photos taken of her face. Maybe she’s just trying to control photos of herself and doesn’t want to get papped, though. You can see why she hates the paparazzi and hides from them when they act like this.
Anyway, here’s ET Online’s account of this video, which you can see on their site.
More trouble for Amanda Bynes… Only ET can show you exclusive footage of the embattled former teen star locked in a disturbing altercation with a paparazzo… Watch the video, then tune into ET tonight for the full story!
The struggle caught on tape began with Bynes walking down Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, shielding her face when she realized she was being photographed. Apparently the star didn’t like the way she looked, and tried to reason with the paparazzo and flatter him into deleting the pics, agreeing to pose for a new set. What happens next turns ugly, as it appears there’s a struggle over control of the camera.
The melee ends with the pap yelling that the star hurt him, with Bynes calmly saying, “I didn’t touch you.”
Bynes has become a paparazzi magnet ever since her car was impounded following a citation for driving on a suspended license – suspended after a series of fender benders and accused hit and runs in addition to a DUI charge for the star.
I don’t want to get into a whole chicken and egg scenario of where Amanda started having problems and when the paparazzi came in. The paparazzi don’t cause celebrities to have mental issues, but they flock to the ones that are having them like fleas on an old dog. This photographer’s behavior is unacceptable, and Amanda probably deals with that crap now whenever she leaves the house. It makes me feel for her actually. That and the fact that she’s not trying to say anything publicly about how Lindsay Lohan is a hypocrite degenerate who should never utter her name.
As for how Amanda is doing otherwise, we’ve heard plenty of stories about her acting bizarrely, most recently in a spinning class when she stripped down to a bra and applied makeup in front of everyone. TMZ reports that Amanda’s entire management team – her agent, publicist, and entertainment lawyer – have all dropped her as a client. They claim “According to one source, all 3 members of the team made multiple efforts to help Amanda before she went radio silent — but Bynes was not receptive. Eventually, the team decided to cut bait … acknowledging they can’t help someone that doesn’t want to be helped.” Apparently Amanda wants to go into fashion and considers herself retired from acting, which is what she told People yesterday. Well, at least her parents are around her now, allegedly.
If you have some time to kill and would like to go over a dated list of Amanda’s legal problems and terribly driving record, MTV has compiled a very good timeline. They didn’t even include this latest scuffle, which happened after the published. Also, we heard a while ago that she was supposed to personally appear in court today, but I don’t know if that’s still happening as her lawyer was just there on her behalf on Wednesday.
Photo credit: WENN.com
This is what I read on Radar last night ““You have to delete the one of my face, I have to look beautiful,” she implores.” and ““Can you stop pinching me? All right, stop? Amanda stop pinching me it is not necessary,” ”
This is sad. Her line about deleting the pictures because she has to look beautiful? It coincides with her getting kicked out of spin class by sitting there doing her makeup. There’s something seriously wrong with this girl.
ok so i actually watched the video this morning and i was expecting her to have some sort of breakdown, but honestly the reports are pretty sketchy and the paparazzi guy seems like a total skeevy guy who is trying to instigate something. when he accuses her of clawing him with her nails she’s about 10 feet away from him and he’s screaming how she’s crazy and attacking him. she’s not even near him…while i do think she probably has some mental issues and i think she needs to own up to her terrible and dangerous driving, this example was just framed imo. he was being an ass, coming up from behind her then taking pictures and the part hwere he accuses her of taking the camera, it’s blurry so you can’t see anything. i’m not trying to defend her in any other case because she’s done terrible stuff, but i feel this one was provoked and it’s sad to see people instigating someone who seriously needs help more than anything…
+1
You’re right–that paparazzo was clearly goading her, and then lying about at least some of what happened. Why does he scream as if he’s in pain and being attacked when she’s so far away from him? Shady. I wonder how much he got paid for that video.
^^ THIS
She does seem to have some problems (the multiple accidents, etc.), but this instance seems like a setup. I don’t see how she could be scratching/pinching him when she’s not even within an arm’s length of him.
Rushing her from behind was disturbing to me too. If she’s really having mental issues, then this is just pushing her. Leave the girl alone and hopefully her family and friends (or maybe the law, if it comes to that) will deal with her issues and help her to get better.
I agree. I’m not defending any of her other actions, but in this situation, I don’t think she did anything wrong. Every time the pap said “Stop” or “Don’t touch me”, Amanda was nowhere near him. IMO, this pap was looking to start shit so he could sue and get a payday.
If you’re going to be a pap, be a respectful one. Don’t act like an asshole like the pap in this story. In all honesty I can’t stand paps. Yes, I read a few gossip sites, but I’d be perfectly content with just the stories and no pics of the celebs. Paps are way too aggressive and they need to chill out.
What a shitty human being, goading a clearly disturbed person into a possible attack, all for a paycheck.
This pap should get a job with a collection agency. Then he could get paid for being a dick over the phone, and no one would be close enough to “attack” him.
Thats really uncomfortable to watch. Poor girl.
The paparazzi need to be stopped! I know it’s common place but, sneaking up behind someone and then flashing all this lights in their face while they are walking down the street IS assault.
But she should have known better!
How dare she walk down the public street living her life!
^sarcasm
These days of instant access can be a good thing. But paps cross the line far too often, it’s all about the next big thing regardless of who they hurt. They set it up to get that big thing too.
I do feel for celebs, like Amanda and Duchess Kate. Yes, they chose this lifestyle, but they are still people.
She’s definitely different form the usual celeb having a meltdown because usually they love the media attention…she’s strangely isolated and reclusive.
I feel bad for her. She is spiraling. Someone (family, friends) needs to step in and get her to lay low for a bit. She was out of the spotlight for years and now, it’s just constant reports of shady behavior. Whatever is going on is not good for her, she needs a change STAT before she pulls a Brit or Blohan.
Are the talon nails a thing now? They are freaking me out a little bit. Freelance photographers get a lot of flack for doing what we do but I swear…paparazzi are the worst of the worst…they are the scum at the bottom of the pond! I’m not saying Amanda didn’t play her part in this little drama however. Something is up with her for sure! So sad.
What are her parents waiting for?
5150 your kid STAT while you still can.
I love her bag but is anyone else tired of “hoof” shoes/boots? People will be rolling their eyes about them after the trend dies. Amanda is kind of bringing attention to herself, which increases the paps. No one would bother her if she wasn’t in left field screaming, “Look at me!!”
I’m tired of the “hoof” boots and heels -they are gross. Right now it seems the designers are able to get away with no thought in what they produce for women’s feet, and yet women buy these things.
I really want to know who was on safari and, while looking at the zebras and giraffes, said to themselves “You know, those hooves are turning me ON. Let’s make some of those for women!”
It’s a REALLY ugly trend, one in which I refuse to participate.
Nice legs!
Her parents should send her into rehab asap.
Isn’t she 26 though? Unless she’s 5150’d or court-ordered (or both), a la Britney, I don’t think they have any legal recourse. (I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.) Now, if she were married, her husband might be able to have her involuntarily committed, but I’m not even sure about that.
Plus, this is all going down in Hell-A, and we all know “stahs” get special treatment there!
Who knows what kind of help this girl could benefit from. She obv needs some kind of intervention – family, medical, time away from the public.
Lohan fail
This isn’t a Lindsay situation. She’s not an asshole. Amanda’s deteriorating rapidly. She’s at the right age, and given what the industry does to child stars and young women, she’s probably suffered a LOT of trauma. Add in possible drug/alcohol abuse and you’ve got all the right ingredients for the onset of mental illness.
I honestly wonder how many of these downward spirals are connected to sexual abuse. There is no doubt in my mind that young women in the industry and used and abused well before the age of consent in Hollywood. It’s a shame gossip sites don’t report on the seedier aspects of the industry, because I think if they did and the public was more aware, there would have to be some accountability for these monsters.
That pap is a dick, too. He practically snuck up from behind her and snapped the flash right in her face. I don’t have much sympathy for the ones who are always calling the photogs and then trying to whine about the invasion, but there’s no reason for someone to sideswipe another person and jam a flashing camera in her face.
I hope she gets help. I really do. Britney eventually did, but it took sooooo long and she’s never been quite right since. It sounds stupid, but the light behind her eyes are gone. She’s suffered. And I think Amanda is suffering, too. She’s an adult so no one can force her to seek help unless she endangers herself, but she really needs some guidance. It doesn’t have to get worse before it gets better.
When AB first started pulling these antics, I thought “Blohan Redux.”
Now though, after reading some of the comments (here) on mental illness, the rumors about her being sexually abused/impregnated by a Nick higher-up (and having to have an abortion), AND the Kid Cudi thing, I feel like she’s a seriously messed-up person who is completely out of touch with reality.
But she’s REALLY got to stop driving herself around.
that rumor of sexual assult by the head guy at Nick was what got me thinking differently as well and i now feel bad for her. i also am extremely heated just thinking about what it really means if the rumors are true about the sexual abuse that happens in the child star industry.
Why is she always carrying two giant purses? This is the third set of pictures of her I’ve seen with the two bags?
I lot of mental disorders come with strange side issues that most people dont recognize or don’t consider. There is a spectrum of disorders and mental pain and a lot of the coping skills people develop on their own are detrimental but eerily similar.
The purse thing is common. Certain objects and things make a person feel safer. They have this, that and the next thing in case they need it. It wards off floating anxiety to be “prepared” and in control in this manner. It helps and it’s mostly harmless.
Ugh, that makes me so sad. Like someone said upthread, she’s not Lohan. She’s not an asshole. She is always by herself.
I find it disturbing how she covers her face like that. I hope she gets help.
*I* find it disurbing that she’s been pushed to the point of feeling like she needs to cover her face like that.
I know I would be, if the paparazzi were crawling up my ass, following & reporting on my every move.
Hakura – It’s like a child who hides under his/her blankie or closes their eyes, thinking that because they can’t see you, you can’t see them. And it’s sad. (It just doesn’t feel like an attention-grab to me.)
Sort of like putting your fingers in your ears saying “LALAAA I CAN’T HEAR YOU LAALALA!” It really is sad =(
Though I have to admit, if the paps hadn’t been following her lately because of the car incidents, her family & friends may not have even found out about her erratic, strange, & dangerous behavior, maybe not even before it was ‘too late’. Hopefully at least some good could come of it…
It has to suck to walk around and just be harassed and talked badly to just for being who you are. They would catch me popping off all the time, and i think Im pretty sane.
I also feel bad for her because she was never followed by paps like this before. Yea she did it to herself driving all crazy but I really dont think anyone deserves this =(
Everyone is quick to say ‘send her to rehab’ or ‘why is nobody helping her?’.
Have you ever tried helping someone who doesn’t want help? Did it go well?
More often than not, unless they want to be helped, shoving her into rehab isn’t going to accomplish anything. From what I can tell, she’s also withdrawing from a lot of people. It’s a mental health issue… I don’t think it’s drugs or alcohol causing it. However, they could be aggravating the issue more.
I think she is a trainwreck and needs help but I also believe the paparazzi are taking advantage of the situation and create situations just so they can sue her for money.
I feel so sad for her. These paps are going to push her until she does something awful. I am convinced she is having some kind of break down and it’s something recent. Or maybe it’s because she retired and had time to look back at her life. She was always the normal one, not getting into trouble, partying or blowing all her money. I hope she realizes that she isn’t okay and asks for help before it’s too late.
The second-to-last sentence needs a little editing.
I just don’t understand why anyone in their right mind would want to be a papparazzi! You’re dubbed as a professional stalker…how is that flattering? How would you feel if the second you walk out of your house, car, or a store you’re being stalked, harassed, and having some creepy guy take your pictures a bunch of times. I mean and the people actually buy the photos..i mean why? I sooo want a collection of pictures of Lilo,Amanda, and any kardashian just randomly walking down the street because they are worth sooo much money. No. Its pathetic. Yes they’re famous having their picture taken is gonna happen, but at the end of the day they’re still human. They deserve some privacy and dignity for goodness sake! Geez if I was hounded and stalked like her I’d go crazy too
God, in all these old pics of her from last year she looks like hell!! Look at her eyes…it looks like she hasn’t slept in three weeks!
In the midst of all her erratic behavior does anyone else notice she’s always ALONE doing this shit? I mean, Lindsay, Britney, Paris all have/had an ARRAY of enablers. Where the hell is she going in high heels all the time at all hours of the day? Red flag.
This is terrible – I hope that a#)($* ‘photographer’ didn’t get paid for this footage of him harassing & abusing this woman.
She was walking down the street & he is threatening, insulting and stalking her. She did well in her attempt to diffuse the situation. DISGUSTING!
I believe there should be a show… Where they subject notoriously agressive paparazzi to a taste of their own medicine, day in & day out for at least a week, if not two.
All the frustration, all the harrassment, all the footage should play on the show (so it all becomes public)… Their ever move & gesture scrutinized & commented on.
Do I think Amanda’s problems are purely from the paps? Of course not. There’s much more going on with her. But I DO think that they’re going to push someone who’s already fragile over the deep end.
Wow, this one really got buried! I haven’t seen anybody but thesuperficial and ET report on this. In my opinion this is the most exciting Amanda Bynes news yet.