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C.J.: This Prince stunt even turns off his fans

Prince fans seem to be growing up, although the same cannot be said of Symbolina. E-mailers and 332-TIPS callers were overwhelmingly aghast at the behavior of Prince's bodyguard, who swiped a camera from Edina's Anthony Fitzgerald when he had the nerve to snap a photo of the belligerent little rock star at the Twin Cities airport. Girded for the usual onslaught of Prince fans willing to justify any misdeed committed by or on behalf of Symbolina, I was pleasantly surprised.

So begins this column of readers' news and views.

Piling on Prince

"I'm a longtime Prince fan who was disgusted by what was reported about Prince's latest bodyguard's antics in your column. I'm really tired of this kind of bullying, if for no other reason than it trivializes the very real concerns of celebrities about privacy invasions by inappropriately demonizing fans and acting in ignorance of the fact that Prince is a public person in a public place," wrote one fan. I am withholding his identity because he volunteered to post something on a Prince Web site on behalf of Anthony Fitzgerald and his mom, Michelle Lee.

"Please tell us why some goon who follows a celebrity around has the right to steal a camera from anyone? To us mere mortals that is called THEFT, and the goon should be arrested and prosecuted accordingly," wrote Susan.

"Good that you exposed that purple jerk for what he is," wrote Zephyr.

"I truly hope you will continue to follow this story and also help this kid not only get his camera back but also an apology from 'the man' himself. Prince has always remained something of a recluse, but he has to remember he is a pop icon and public figure, and even he is not above the law," wrote Samantha.

C.J. is at 612-332-TIPS or cj@startribune.com.She never opens e-mail attachments, so don't even try. Please state a subject, something other than "Hello." More of her attitude can be seen on FOX 9.