A pesky photographer named Signor Paparazzo in the 1960 Federico Fellini film La Dolce Vita gave the world the phrase "paparazzi," which is now the generic pejorative term for intrusive photographers, mostly those who chase celebrities in public places.
Working for the "mainstream media" as "real" photojournalists, we never really have to do a lot of celebrity-stalking. Waiting to get politicians and/or criminals walking out of buildings and/or courthouses is about as close as we get. In the old days, movie stars, musicians, authors would tour big cities, get a hotel suite, and invite the local press to do individual interviews and photo portrait sessions (I remember once asking Pete Townsend of the Who to jump in the air and "play" an air guitar on a bed). Now days celebrities provide their own favorite photos for us to use, or when they do intentionally make themselves available for photos, it is usually only on the "red carpet."
But sometimes those intentions can get a little fuzzy. Like this week, when the Inquirer got a tip that Bill Cosby was back in Philadelphia and would be having dinner with friends at an Old City Italian restaurant. And he would probably not object to to being photographed as he arrived. And he might even talk to a reporter when they left.
We really haven't seen him here, since he moved to Massachusetts last summer after his sexual-assault trail ended with a deadlocked jury and the judge declaring a mistrial. He is now awaiting a new trial on charges he drugged and molested a former Temple University basketball staffer in 2004 was supposed to begin in November, but was delayed until this spring so his new high-profile legal team could get up to speed. He has said the encounter was consensual.
So fellow staff photographer David Swanson (in photo below, shooting video) and myself (stills) along with Inquirer reporters Laura McCrystal and Jeremy Roebuck waited outside the Restorante La Veranda. Was the tip initiated by his public relations advisors we wondered? Did it matter? Were we being played? Every reader of the newspaper and viewer of our website in Montgomery County is a potential juror. Cosby's spokesman, Purpose PR founder Andrew Wyatt, has been with him for years. Long before Cosby any allegations were made against the former sitcom star, Wyatt helped him with promotions for his college tours and fundraising events. He is person seen in all the photos from the trial, holding Cosby's arm as he entered and left the courthouse.
Right at the time the tip indicated, Cosby pulled up in the same kind of black SUV as during the trial, with the same publicists helping him walk with the same cane, up the sidewalk just like at the courthouse in Norristown. The only difference - it was cold out, and a freelance television crew and the four of us were the only media there.
The entourage didn't do or say anything to dissuade us, so after shooting his entrance, we just followed him into the restaurant. Cosby was greeted by the restaurant staff, and paused to tak to diners as his entourage made its way to their table. David and I just kept shooting, as the reporters took notes.
After a while, the waitstaff started bringing menus, and David and I looked at each other. Were we done?
Cosby was telling childhood stories to his dinner guest - a friend from his childhood - the two public relations people, and one of their friends from California. It was a really strange night. Maybe typical for a celebrity. Or one wanting positive press. I don't know. Is it typical for someone to fly in from Boston, go out to dinner where they are met by photographers who follow them inside a restaurant, all the while carrying on as if nothing is going on?
David finally reached over to Cosby, extended his hand, and said "Thank you." Cosby asked him who he worked for, and when told "The Inquirer," jerked his had back. David "admitted" photographing him dozens of times coming and going from the courthouse. Cosby had the same feigned dismay when I reached out to shake his hand as well. But when when reporter Laura McCrystal shuck his hand he told her, "Please don't put me on #MeToo. I just shook your hand like a man."
Huddling at the bar with the two reporters (the TV camera had remained outside. Their tipster had promised Cosby would likely stop for a brief interview on his way out) David was summoned back to the table by Cosby's PR man. Was it to apologize for not shaking his hand? Spin the "MeToo comment. "No he wanted food photography advice," David told us (he shoots many of our food reviews). Actually David said, Cosby wanted to show him an old 8x10 photo he'd brought of his old high school basketball team to show his guest. "Can you tell which one is me?" Cosby asked David.
Eventually the four of us went back into the restaurant, getting a table close to Cobsy's just to keep an eye on things. (I had a calamari appetizer. David went for the shrimp cocktail.)
After dinner, some of the few other diners in the restaurant walked over to Cosby's table, asked to take selfies, and did. When they got up to leave, so did the four of us, and went outside to wait with the TV crew.
He talked to reporters about the food, "The feel of this city at this time for me with the snow … you know, it's just a great, good, crisp feel," Cosby said. Asked if he had other plans in Philadelphia this week, he quipped to reporters, "Yes. And you can't come."
How are you feeling about your April retrial for the alleged assault of Andrea Constand? one reporter finally asked him. "We're ready," Cosby responded as then stopped and walked toward his waiting SUV.
It was the first time he had been seen in public since his trial ended. But this wasn't big news. The Associated Press picked up the "#MeToo" comment, but as far as I can tell, the video crew didn't even sell their tape to TMZ. Click here, or on Cosby, for our story: