The Memo: Jacob Elordi and protections from the paparazzi

Tyler Rigby – 12 February 2024

Hollywood star Jacob Elordi has found himself in hot water (and not the kind he’s known for) after an alleged altercation took place in Sydney between the Euphoria star and a British radio reporter named Joshua Fox. A producer on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on KIIS FM, Fox traced Elordi to a beer garden outside of a hotel and approached him, asking if he could fill a container with the actor’s used bathwater. Sound confusing? Well, it’s a callback to the star’s hit role in Saltburn; a film about high society in which a character drinks the used bathwater of Elordi’s character.

The Aussie wasn’t best pleased, reacting negatively to the request before asking Fox to cease filming. After Fox obliged, Elordi allegedly pushed him against the wall by his throat and threatened him after the reporter refused to delete the footage from his recently deleted folder. Fox claims someone made the complaint to the police on his behalf and hopes the pair can move on from the incident.

Whatever really happened in this instance, the incident has sparked a conversation around the extent to which high-profile individuals are in need of legal protection from paparazzi and the press. In the UK, the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 outlines a variety of scenarios and instances that would allow individuals to take legal action against the media for breaches of privacy. Initially introduced to combat stalking, the Act ensures that any behaviour that causes the victim distress or alarm is potential grounds for an injuction or damages claim.

With Fox downplaying the incident and Elordi so far refusing to comment, this particular case may very well fall away from the headlines, but with growing sympathy for those affected by an enthusiastic press (such as for Britney Spears, or Prince Harry and Meghan Markle), ensuring privacy for celebrities and public figures will be a growing discussion.