Gigi Hadid Appeals to Paparazzi for Privacy

Despite all the wonders of being a celebrity, there is a high price these people end up paying for such exposure: lack of privacy. Gigi Hadid just shared an open letter to address precisely the subject.

The model and her partner, Zayn Malik, are doing everything in their power to protect the couple's first child, Khai, who was born in September 2020. The pair don't post a clear picture of the baby and she always appears with a blurry face or just parts of the body, such as little feet, on social networks.

But the model went even further and this week published her feelings asking paparazzi, press, and fan accounts on the Internet to respect her daughter's privacy and keep Khai's face out of the photos.

She explained that while the cart's roof is effective in protecting her daughter from unwanted bystanders, Khai is growing up and wants to see more of the city, which is why Hadid requested that those taking family photos make sure her daughter's face is blurred.

Read the full statement below:

“For paparazzi, press, and fan accounts:

As our baby grows up we have to realize that we can't protect her from everything the way we wanted to and could when she was smaller. She loves seeing the world! And although she gets a lot of that out near our farm, she also gets to experience other places — a true blessing. On our most recent visits to New York, she's started to want her sunroof [of the cart] raised (something she's used to at home). She doesn't understand why she needs to be covered in town, or what I wanted to protect her from. I also want her to see the most amazing city in the world - the beautiful and diverse people who walk the streets of New York... that is, without the stress of the media circus that accompanies parents who are public figures.

I know the laws change State to State, and I've seen some paparazzi photos of kids in New York with their faces blurred—but, from asking around, I believe that that comes down to the integrity of the photographer, publication, or fans sharing the images.

I write all of this to say: To the Paparazzi, the press, and the accounts of beloved fans, you know that we never intentionally share our daughters' faces on social media. Our wish is that she can choose how to share herself with the world when she comes of age, and that she can live as normal of a childhood as possible, without worrying about a public image that she has not chosen. It would mean the world to us, as we take our daughter to see and explore NYC and the world, if you would PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE blur her face out of the images, if and when she is caught on camera. I know it's an extra effort—but as a new mom, I just want the best for my baby, as all parents do... And I hope this can continue the conversation to protect minors in the media, even if they come from a public family.

I would like to send a huge 'Thank you' to those paparazzi who have been so respectful, since I've asked them to keep a distance while I walked with the stroller since my first trip to NYC with Khai. I see you and I appreciate it.

For a child, I can imagine that close or dramatic paparazzi frenzies must be overwhelming and disorienting...it still is as an adult that understands and deals with it often.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and hope you can understand where I'm coming from.

With love, G.”