Steven Tyler to Testify at Hearing for Hawaii Anti-Paparazzi Bill; Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne Submit Statements of Support

Proposed "Steven Tyler Act' seeks to staunch intrusive and harrassing paparazzi behavior by imposing stricter penalties on photogs

By Alexis L. Loinaz Feb 08, 2013 12:38 PMTags
Steven TylerLester Cohen/WireImage.com

Celebs are saying "aloha" to the Steven Tyler Act.

Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, along with a slew of stars including Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, and Ozzy Osbourne and his family, have come out in support of a proposed bill by Hawaii legislators that aims to staunch rampant, intrusive and harassing paparazzi behavior.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct a hearing today on the bill, which is indeed named after the legendary Aerosmith rocker, in Honolulu, and Tyler himself—who initiated the bill—is expected to attend.

The proposed legislation aims to impose stricter penalties on paparazzi who harass celebs on the island. Among other provisions, it would enable stars to seek damages from photographers who intrude upon their privacy.

The bill also expands its definition of privacy invasion to encompass not only physical trespassing but also the use of zoom lenses and sophisticated sound equipment to snag images or audio of celebs during their personal downtime.

The proposed bill already has Hollywood rallying behind it: Stars like Spears, Lavigne and the Osbournes—along with Tommy Lee and Neil Diamond—have supposedly submitted written statements supporting the Steven Tyler Act, per published reports.

"The paradise of Hawaii is a magnet for celebrities who just want a peaceful vacation," Tyler, who has a house in Maui, said in a statement.

"As a person in the public eye, I know the paparazzi are there and we have to accept that," he added. "But when they intrude into our private space, disregard our safety and the safety of others, that crosses a serious line that shouldn't be ignored."