{{{C.J.: College kid says Prince bodyguard swiped his camera after snapping shot http://www.startribune.co...93703.html
C.J., Star Tribune
Published December 30, 2003

Prince's bodyguard reportedly played the role of airport Scrooge Monday when he swiped an Edina man's new digital camera. Anthony Fitzgerald, 19, was on his way to London for New Year's when his friend Carah Barrett said "Oh, isn't that Prince?" Symbolina was deplaning near an L.A. flight, the college kids believe. "Sure enough, it was him in his sunglasses and everything trying to make a big deal out of nothing," said Fitzgerald, reached Tuesday via cell phone. "There was one of those carts waiting for him. He hopped on that and was waiting I guess for the rest of his party. I went over and took a picture," said Fitzgerald. "I turned around and right in front of my face was his bodyguard who said What the hell do you think you're doing? Snatched the camera out of my hands and got on the thing and they drove off."}}} I attempted to get Prince's side of the encounter Tuesday through his NYC attorney Londell McMillan. "We do have a report of it," said Lt. Matt Christenson of the Twin Cities airport. "The report is still in process and under investigation." Fitzgerald said "I called (airport police) as I was on the plane, and they wanted to delay the plane so I could fill out a police report. I didn't want to hold up 109 people. I told them when I came into Minnesota I would do it then." Fitzgerald's mom, Michelle Lee, said she called to make a complaint with airport police, but she was told that her son needs to finish this. "It's on file," Lee said. "First I call, talked to security, and security said we can't do anything. I said, 'Don't tell me you can't do anything about it. This is ridiculous!' This is a good kid." Fitzgerald was a very upset kid when he called his mom from the airport while she was working her server job at Bacio in Minnetonka. Fitzgerald, seen in a holiday Walmart commercial playing with an X-Box, goes to KU in Lawrence, Kansas while Barrett attends NDSU in Fargo. "Here is a college kid who works at Russell Stover down in Lawrence for like $7 an hour; part-time job while he's going to school; second year down there. Come on. He doesn't have money," said his mom, reiterating, "I mean, this is a good kid. Never been in trouble. Super kid and just really likes Prince." Make that liked Prince. Fitzgerald said he previously thought pain and suffering claims in lawsuits were silly, until now: "It surprised me. It really just shocked me because this man appears out of nowhere and yanked the camera out of my hand." After work Monday, Lee went home and started working the Web to see whether there is a way to reach Prince. "He's like wiped off the face of the Earth. Nothing on the Internet. Couldn't get ahold of Paisley Park. Nothin'," said Lee. But she knows Paisley's location. "When I get off work at Bacio today, I'm heading out there. I'm leaving him A NOTE!" she said. "I'm furious. I want my son's camera back. That is wrong and dirty. Who does this big goon think he is?" Is this anyway for a door-knocking member of Jehovah's Witnesses to allow his representatives to act?

C.J. is at 612-332-TIPS or at cj@startribune.com, where she never opens attachments. So don't even try. It would be wise to state a subject if you want her to actually open your e-mail. More of this fine attitude can be viewed on FOX9 Thursday mornings.

take him to the people's court. i'd love to see Judge Wapner bitch-slap Prince for this.

AaronAlmighty said:

same thing happened to me in 2000, they couldnt find the camera, we got away with a picture.

This makes me realize that Prince still has a LOOONNNGGG way 2 go in adopting the JW beleifs, because, they tend not 2 think of themselves more than is necessary to think(hence, no birthdays!!!) and 2 have a balanced view of themselves!!!.And this just proves that he still has a big ego problem 2 have bodyguards sheilding him from fans taking pics!!! He would have changed his views on himself by now and opened up 2 fans doing things like this!! Yet, I expect when he goes to the Kingdom Hall, he mingles in with the rest of the congregation and acts like hes one of the crowd, yet on occasions like this he is totally different!! It just proves that he really does have 2 sides and they are both freinds!!!

Also, I still think he is still under the impression that he is the huge mega-star that he used 2 b!!!

YET ON THE OTHER HAND!!! How much of this story from CJ is really true??? U can never take anything she says as gospel truth!!!

It was rude of him to take a photo like that, but I didn't know it was legal to steal someones camera like that. He should sue or press charges for theft.

when u take pictures of Prince, just don't b so obvious...

me? eye would have had backup myself b4 doing that, and eye would have thrown the camera across 2 my Running Back, the results would have been digital pigskin history!

stuff like this will make ppl who would not have dreamed of publishing pics, just say 2 heck with Prince, just 4 the heck of it.

give the kid back his camera.

follow him kid, 4 the same reasons he wrote My Medallion.

But then, also I think his bodyguards are more paranoid than Prince is, regarding fans taking pics!!! They seem 2 have ego problems as well, just because they protect Prince!!! U would think that they are protecting The President Of The United States, the way they act around Prince!!!
I honestly think they would love Prince 2 b travelling on a purple Air Force One!!!

Trevor really can be an arrogant wanker at times.

He's been in trouble for this before.

"Last night a stranger took my picture and asked if I'd buy it, I said I guess I don't know how"

freakyfeet said:

he ain't that big

msserendipity said:

hmmm, this from a girl who's 4'11 or so

(don't ask how I know that)

what i find funny is how the mom is painting this pathetic story of how her son only makes $7 a hour and his a** is going to LONDON for New Year's Eve!!! HA! i've yet to get there . . . and i'm in my 30's. he ain't doing THAT bad. he should get his camera back though. it's not that hard to just delete the last pic taken on a digital camera. the BG was just power trippin' - trying to look Kewl in front of his Master P . . . haha

He had every right to take that pic. Prince was in a public place in plain view.

He should contact Prince's camp and request they return his camera, otherwise file a lawsuit.

http://www.krages.com/The...sRight.pdf
[This message was edited Wed Dec 31 6:29:52 PST 2003 by Tom]

Lenae said:

It is less than 300 dollars to fly to london in this season. A hostel (instead of a hotel) costs about 12-14 pounds per night. Anyone who saves their money can afford to do this.

Lenae said:

Prince should be ashamed of himself for representing a fraud. Allowing his employee to steal that boy's camera, and perpetuating his ego, is in direct conflict with what Jehovah wants.

Lenae said:

Ya jus havta learn to save your money... It aint all that... you'll have a better time in NY !

EROTICCITYNPG said:

Mommy!!!
The big bad man stole my camera

---

Russell Stover's in Lawrence? I may just call him.

Yeah, make fun all you want


This was assault and robbery.



That is NO JOKE and the bodyguards should know better.

Even though Prince did not take the camera he should have stepped up and instructed the bodyguard to give the camera back. Maybe Prince will "Right the Wrong"… or he may have found his New Years resolution for 2004.

Why couldn't they have just said not to take anymore pictures? Taking the camera is just stupid and makes him look like an arrogant wanker yet again. And I find it very funny that some people still try to justify this kind of crap.

If it was a digital camera coudn't they have just made the guy erase the picture?

Here is my opinion on this story. First of all the bodyguard did exactly what he is paid to do. God forbid if this person was one of these wacko's and did something crazy to put either Prince or his people in danger. Just say if something bad would have happened, then everyone would be saying where was his bodyguard, and why did he let this man get so close to him.I know that in a perfect world we should not have to worry about these type of things , but we all know what kind of world we live in. It's better to be safe than sorry. His bodyguard would not have taken my camera from me because if I wanted to take a picture of prince or anyone else for that matter, I would have asked first just out of respect.Most people walk around with the attitude that they can do whatever they want to do ,with no reguard for the other person. It only takes a second to ask..

Maybe Prince fired the bodyguard for using a four letter word.

"I turned around and right in front of my face was his bodyguard who said What the hell do you think you're doing?

If this story is true, then Prince is still an idiot! He doesn't have the same clout or respect that he once did. He should be happy someone under the age of 35 is willing to take his picture, let alone listen to his cd's!

Yes it would be ideal if the kid asked first, which would be polite and respectful.

However, according to that PDF someone posted (if it's true), legally the kid didn't do anything wrong.

In contrast, the bodyguard seems to have broken the law on several counts (theft, intimidation etc.).

From that document, it doesn't even seem like there would be legal grounds for erasing the picture... that would be theft as well.

I think the moral is you should be polite and respectful, but if someone isn't, that is still not grounds for criminal behavior, even if you work for a celebrity.

Bull said:

Bull I totally agree. BODY GUARD means just that. Protect your employers Body or person. The dude was on the J.O.B.! Snap a picture of Prince? Bet you know better now, don't you camera boy! Have you ever heard of the word "ASK"? You should know, if you still don't, "ASK" somebody. And while you're at it, ask your mama to buy you another camera

It is still stealing. If you are not allowed to steal the papparzi's camera's, then why are you allowed to steal a camera from a civilian.

I mean, what if I tried to steal Princes keyboard, because I was offended by NEWS?.lol