"Once I was walking from The Mercer in New York - because otherwise I don't walk anywhere - and this woman paparazzo who was following me fell over a fire hydrant and her whole tooth went through her lip. I leant over her, saying, 'Are you all right?' and she was still taking pictures"

Kate Moss shares a striking anecdote that illustrates the surreal interactions between celebrities and paparazzi, as well as the relentless nature of fame. She recounts a rare instance of walking in New York, emphasizing that she typically doesn’t walk anywhere, which already hints at the extraordinary lifestyle shaped by her celebrity status. This sets the stage for her encounter with a paparazzo , specifically described as a woman to perhaps add an extra note of empathy or vividness to the story.

The photographer, in her pursuit of a candid shot, becomes so focused on capturing Moss that she ignores her own safety, resulting in a dramatic accident. Tripping over a fire hydrant with such force that her tooth goes through her lip, the photographer experiences genuine pain and injury. The image is almost slapstick, yet it carries an undercurrent of violence and the toll that relentless pursuit can have, not just on celebrities but those who chase them for a living.

Moss’s response is telling; despite being the target of invasive paparazzi, she shows concern, bending over the injured woman to ask if she’s alright. Her reaction offers a moment of unexpected humanity and perhaps highlights the absurdity of their roles , the hunted caring for the hunter. Yet, the photographer’s response is even more telling of the compulsion within celebrity culture: undeterred by physical pain and injury, she continues to take pictures, prioritizing her work over her own wellbeing.

The story reveals the extremes to which paparazzi will go for the perfect shot, the levels of intrusion that celebrities regularly face, and the odd relationships that can emerge between the two. It also subtly critiques the media’s demand for relentless content and comments on how, in the pursuit of fame, both parties can lose sight of normal boundaries , and perhaps even their own physical limits.