Twilight's Robert Pattinson Pursued by Relentless Paparazzi, Hypocrisy

In an episode both disturbing and unfortunately commonplace, actor, now mega celebrity Robert Pattinson was recently driven to the point of exasperation by a horde of camera wielding parasites.

Photos and video are surfacing everywhere of the latest encounter between the Twilight star and a small but intrusive pack of opportunists. Pattinson initially, and for the most part, handles himself with class and professionalism, but when it becomes clear he is dealing with fortune seekers rather than fans, and after being repeatedly lied to, the harassment begins to take its toll.

Based upon the video, which, yes we watched, and are now reporting on, and thus are subject to our own scrutiny, Pattinson was accommodating, politely letting the mob get its pictures, despite trying to mind his own fleeting business. He then asks the paps to let him go, to which the slug holding the video camera openly agrees.

Pursued by an uninvited entourage, Pattinson eventually pulls over, asking again to be left alone. The same voice, coming from behind the same video camera, lies again that he has not been following the now understandably frustrated star. The scene repeats itself at three or four additional locations where Pattinson pulls over, eager, probably, simply to keep from being trailed home.

At each turn Pattinson tries to reason with his pursuers, and his irritation, once it surfaces is wholly understandable. Yes, he is a celebrity, and his talent, good looks and attachment to Twilight are going to command attention, but even dismissing professional courtesy, don't we have an obligation to this man as a fellow human being?

Enter the Great Hypocrisy. Every tabloid news program already has, or is going to get their hands on the video, and are sure to lead with it until Lindsay Lohan gets out of jail. Each show's host will, in their fashion, comment at the despicable behavior of the photographers, and appeal to unkind world to give this, and the similarly oppressed, a break. Yet, buckets of money regularly change hands between the perpetrators of this persecution and the producers of these shows. Short of class or a conscience, then, what incentive do the slimearazzi have to back off?

And here am I, a self proclaimed sympathetic party, jumping on this story because I can splash the words Twilight, celebrity and Robert Pattinson all over it. I may not have stuck a camera in anyone's face, but here I am looking to benefit from it. No, I am not without sin. May Mr. Pattinson and the higher power in which I believe understand.