A social media post brimming with star-studded drama of celebrity-paparazzi encounters has captivated the internet’s imagination. X user @whyrev kicked off a series of posts entitled “A thread of iconic celebrity and paparazzi encounters.”
In the thread, Rev shares a multitude of beleaguered celebrities dealing with pesky paparazzi. Posted yesterday morning, the thread has amassed a staggering 53 million views as of this writing.
The image chosen to represent the impressive list? None other than Britney Spears hurling a soda at the feet of a photographer circa 2004.
Britney fans might recall that this was shortly following her second marriage to Kevin Federline. Culture vultures everywhere were chomping at the bit to catch the couple out after enjoying some Subway sandwiches.
However, the “I’m a Slave 4 U” crooner had other ideas. After she pitched her soda at the paparazzi, multiple snapshots surfaced of the teen idol losing her cool.
“she was mad abt that bc she don’t play about her pepsi”, an X user quipped in the massive thread. “She probably just thought poor guy was thirsty and wanted to help,” another X user joked.
One fan noted that Spears at least avoided ruining the paparazzi’s primary tool. “At least she wasn’t trying to throw it on the cameras,” they wrote.
A Cavalcade of Celebrity Paparazzi Encounters
However, Britney’s soda hurl heard around the world is just the tip of the iceberg with this exhaustive list of celebrity paparazzi encounters.
Included in the thread was Icelandic pop star Bjork letting her fists fly on an aggressive cameraman. Longer version of the footage reveals that the singer was traveling with her child, and perhaps justifiably annoyed.
Another favorite included was when Rihanna humiliated a paparazzi who asked her for free tickets. “Free tickets these nuts,” the “Umbrella” singer shot back like a girl boss.
Kanye West himself also made the list. Way back in 2008 while trying to avoid photographers as he walked alongside Kim Kardashian, the rapper smacked his head directly into a stop sign. Of course, a meltdown ensued.
However, not every celebrity encounter with the paparazzi was negative. Also included in the round-up was the time back in 2013 when Selena Gomez asked a photographer for help.
It seems the pop star didn’t know how to put her vehicle in reverse and was nervous to try while at the gas pump. The paparazzi gladly assists the young pop star.
Indeed, Rev ended things on an upbeat note in the viral thread. After featuring a post with Beyonce, his final post showed Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield “using the paparazzi to spread awareness to charities.”