Newsweek

Pay Attention and Leave Me Alone

Why do people who make a living from publicity say they don’t want publicity?

by Steve Tuttle August 20, 2010

Before I begin this column, I must ask that you respect my privacy and not read it. Wait ... why are you still reading? I asked you very politely to please respect my privacy!

That’s little different from the request made last weekend by the inestimably talented actor Neil Patrick Harris, a.k.a. Doogie Howser, when he sent out the following tweet to nearly three quarters of a million Twitter followers, which in effect meant he was sending it to every wire service and gossip blog in the world: “So, get this: David and I are expecting twins this fall. We’re super excited/nervous/thrilled. Hoping the press can respect our privacy ...”

“Hoping the press can respect our privacy ...” is the part that I, a member of the press, am about to disrespect. Seriously? Why did you tweet this personal information if you wanted privacy? I think Harris is an extremely gifted and funny guy, but this is yet another in a long line of celebrities asking us to respect their privacy while at the same time broadcasting news about their family or career—and I’m only talking about the last week or so. For instance, actor Kelsey Grammer has a new baby on the way. He told a reporter that it does “make some sense” to get married to the mom, but that he’s “got some other stuff I’ve got to clear up first.” This is what we call in showbiz an understatement, because that other stuff he’s clearing up is the fact that he is still married. To another woman.