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Every week, msnbc.com entertainment producers Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, Denise Hazlick, Paige Newman, Kurt Schlosser and Anna Chan weigh in on topics ranging from TV commercials to movie hype to the latest celebrity blunder. We're not ashamed to admit our love for bad TV or reveal what's on our iPods, and invite you to join the conversation via your comments.



Will you pay to see Knox and Vivienne?

Posted: Sunday, August 03, 2008 9:50 PM by Denise Hazlick
Filed Under: , ,

The photos of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's twins, Knox and Vivienne, hit the newsstands on Monday in the latest issue of People magazine (the cover photo went live on the magazine's Web site Sunday afternoon and can be seen here). People paid a reported $15 million for the photos, which will be featured in a 19-page spread in the magazine.

The magazine's editors hope interest in the celebrity babies will be strong enough that folks will plunk down their diminishing discretionary dollars to buy the issue. Will you? Do you plan to buy the latest issue of the celebrity magazine? Or will you merely look at the photos while standing in the check-out line instead of buying a copy?

 

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No high horse here. A question was asked and we decided to answer it. No one said they are above interest, they just have no interest in feeding more into these people and their lives. Buying the magazine would be an interest; commenting on it however is not.
No, emphatically NOT. If they donated part of their multi-million earnings from films like "Wanted" (which glamorize gratuitous violence) to charity and did'nt publicize this, then, I might think they deserve the praise that is lavished upon them for their good works. They are using their family as a commodity, and enjoying global self-promotion.
NO
Who?
I'll wait until I have a dr's appointment and will check the People magazine in the office.  
Yes I will buy the magazine featuring Brad & Angie's newborn twins.  They are the ONLY celeb couple I would pay for that are featured in a magazine spread such as this.  I admire them as ppl, parents', humanatarians, and actors'.   The reason why there is high interest in this couple/family is because they are GENUINE in their pursuits, causes, and humanatarian efforts.  At least Ange/Brad have the good sense to donate the exorbiant amnt. of $$$ received to childrens' charities, how many other celeb mammas/pappas have done that? JLo/Marc- NO, Tori S.- NO, Matt M.- NO, Jessica A.- NO!, etc. I'd rather know my $$$ is going to a worthy cause than lining the already bulging pockets of over-rated "celebs"!  Other "superficial", "greedy" celebs should take notice!
You've already shown me the pics for free so why would I pay to see them again?  I also don't like that they make a big deal over the children that are born to them naturally.  Where are the pics of Zahara, Pax and Maddox?  Why are they showing just the white children?  That's something they should've fought for, they show a side pic of Shiloh (the white one) w/ one of the twins.  Why not a pic of all of them?  Why are they hiding the black and asian siblings?  Why only showing the white babies?
NO!!!  What the heck is the big deal? Couples have babies everyday! And why are they profitting from the photos? They are sick and is the media for pushing this nonsense.  By the way, Marie and Eward Jones just had a baby in Brooklyn.  Send photographers and a check book.
wow, imagine that, Angelina has done something that has never been done before by anyone, she gave birth!! It's nice that they are donating the money to charity, if that's true. Having said that, I don't feel the need to know every mundane and stupid detail of a person's life just because they make movies for a living. The obsession people have with celebrities lives is NOT healthy. C'mon people, mind your own business and live your own life!
so does this mean we should BOYCOTT PEOPLE MAGAZINE for being so extravagant ? its a shame people magazine couldn't find something better todo with all that money. until actors salaries GO down and the economy goes up Im not going to a movie or paying for a stupid magazine that covers this crap. what in theworld is wrong that we are idolizing a woman with no marriage and kids from a man she stole from another woman.  they had stories like this inthe Bible. I believe God destroyed those 2 cities and turned the people who looked back into stone lol
Oh yeah! Sign me up - I need to rush right down to our nearest newsstand to pick up the latest issue of People with photos of Brad and Angelina's twins. Please…you've got to be kidding me! My sister had twins 13 years ago and People certainly wasn't beating her door down to get snaps of her infants.

With all of the events going on in the word and our economy being in a state of shock; this is what society deems newsworthy? Even with the proceeds going to charity, I have no more interest in seeing these twins, anymore than reading about any other celebrity drivel. I'm so over the celebrity hype; as someone pointed out earlier in this forum, celebrities work for us. If we don't buy, watch, listen, or indulge them, then they will not have a job. Personally, I opt for not buying, watching, listening, or indulging them. It's like Jennifer Lopez never existed and what a relief that is. No more tabloid news about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, or Lindsey Lohan; all I can say to that is “hooray”! Now, let's work some real magic and retire Brad and Angelina to some obscure country where they can raise their family in peace and leave those of us that aren’t interested, uninformed.
Not in this lifetime! Maybe their humanitarian efforts undo some of the bad karma and hurts they've caused in other people's lives (ok, it's ancient history, but as a wife and mother, it matters to me), but I'm sick of hearing about their utopian existence with each other. It's so unrealistic and as fake as Hollywood itself. But I'm here, so I guess that admittedly makes me a hypocrite.
Who gives a crap about them???? I am SOOOOOOOOO SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING about freaking Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie!!!  Enough is enough, i can't escape it! it's horrible.  PATHETIC!
Rather then spend the money to see the Brangelina twins, I think I will keep it and use it to put food into my twins mouths.
NO, NO, NO!!  These are wonderful humanitarians?  They gave the money to charity? Maybe, and if so, BIG DEAL!  So, they throw a few bucks at charity (15 million to their bank account is equivilent to 15 bucks to mine).  This is a couple of self indulgent, vapid narcissistic bimbos who spend $350,000 on an end table.  How many people do you suppose you could feed in some of these countries they profess to care so much about for $350,000?  
No, I will not pay to see the twins. I do not approve of selling kids photos to make a buck but how could they include Shiloh and not their other kids. Is this cover suppose to show only natural children and ignore the adopted ones? Seems very cold to me.
You might want to note that the money goes to the Jolie Pitt Foundation, a charity that they own & control and they donate to charities out of that...  meaning after they pay their "foundation" employees, travel expenses, most likely, including private jets and nanny & body guard expenses when they travel to foreign countries.  (pre tax)

So, really it is a way to pay for most of their personal expenses and they can then pocket their income from movies.  

fairly transparent, I'd say.
Now I know why I can't afford a subscription of People magazine.  They jacked up their prices to accomodate celebrities like these.  Granted, the money is going to charity, but who will actually BUY the magazine when they are worried about bills, gas, etc.???  Read it when you are paying through the nose at your local grocery store and standing in a long line which these people will never do.  They have 6 children, but 4 nannies too.  It must be nice:S
People magazine is nothing but a glorified National Enquirer and trash as such.  I never buy trash. I also do not care about celebrity offspring and feel its disgusting how objectified these kids have become. The end does not always justify the means. There are more pressing matters in our world at this moment we should be turning our attentions to.
I have absolutely no interest in these pictures and I haven't looked at People in years. And yes, I care about the obsession of the American public with celebrities.  I find it appalling and the dumbing down of the American mind.  That's what I care about and why I'm against People magazine and their kind. So I take this opportunity to express my dislike.
nope. All babies look pretty much the same the first few months. I'm happy for them and all, but what's the point? Show 'em to me at about 9 months when their lil faces develop some character. I won't pay for the pictures then either, but it's just an idea.
I totally agree with Tammy in San Antonio. where are the other kids?..No I will not pay to see there kids.
All babies are beautiful, why aren't the other kids surrounding the twins?
Blah, I agree - while I have an interest in celebrities (I confess that I read the entertainment page of msnbc like so many other people), Angelina and Brad have struck me as sanctimonious and not very honest about the way they have really led their lives. We don't know the whole truth, nor will we ever know for sure - but I would prefer not to spend my hard-earned cash looking at photos of two privileged, beautiful people who have behaved questionably - and their equally privileged, beautiful (and completely innocent) children - when there are everyday people trying to figure out how to make ends meet to put food on the table or gas in the car.  Nice that you donated the money, Brad and Angelina, but it's still self-serving to put that kind of stuff out there for public consumption.  Surely your agents would have advised you that this might not be received well?  I would imagine you were swayed by the record-setting amount you received in exchange.  You stars complain that you get followed but yet you buy right into the very system you dislike.  If you want privacy, move to a remote island and stop making movies.  Raise your children the way the rest of us do.  Stop talking to the media and let people find out about your humanitarian efforts on their own.  I would rather buy photos of Britney's kids because at least she is leading what appears to be an honest life.

Someone please also explain how someone with freakish tendencies like Angelina could suddenly become a humanitarian saint as she is portrayed and as she apparently wishes to be seen in the public eye.  What was she thinking when she wore vials of blood and made out with disgusting old men on the red carpet dressed like a hooker?  Now, suddenly, her entire world has changed and she's better than the rest of us -- everything she touches turns to gold?  Sorry, I aint buyin' it.  Her movies are just not that good.
Marriages do not break because of one person. It takes two to break vows. And no one can wreck a home that is built on a shaky foundation like fame,celebrity, swag and other material reasons. It breaks apart by itself. A relationship built on mutual love, common goals, interests and most importantly family will normally outlast and outlive any temptation even if the two people are celebrities. Any celebrity however famous or big at the end of the day is still a person. And if the needs of the person are not met, especially with respect to children, they have every right to end the marriage which was not working even if the person is a Brad Pitt. As for Angelina Jolie, every one has a past. I wonder if any one of us will hold up to the scrutiny and judgement we pass on these people.
I won't spend any money for the magazine. I will go to Barne's and Noble at lunch. Grab the People magazine and read the twins story while sitting down having my coffee and a pretzel.

I think it's a great what Brad and Angie are doing. Can't wait to see the next baby they bring into the world. They are good people doing good things for many.
I will have to say WILL NOT to the question whether I will or will not buy this magazine.  But "God Bless" all their children and the nannies who will raise them when there isn't a family photo op to further this facade.
I want to! But I feel it's so wrong...
There are a few celebrities out there that have sold pictures of their children, kept the money and had no problem hiding that fact. Do you ever see pictures of Madonna, Christina Aguilara, Melania Trump or some of the other "good parents" out there actually playing with their children and acting like normal parents do who cherish their kids and want to spend quality time doing things their children will enjoy instead of only appearing with them on the red carpet and at premieres? Their children are props and they do nothing to help others in need. I truly believe that these two really love their kids and appreciate every moment with them. Sure they have a ton of money and can travel and live a great life (they had all of that before they got together). I wish I were one of their children (Brad, will you adopt a 44 year old?) And who cares about that Whining, Pound Puppy Jennifer Aniston? She looks miserable and needy and I doubt she could keep any man happy and content.
I dare say most of you are missing the point.  They sold the photos because the paparrazi were going to try to get the shots anyway and by selling them first Brad and Angelina then controlled where the money went.  While I don't know them, I think it is far-fetching to imply that they had the twins to raise catch for charity (as at least one poster suggested). I buy People nearly every week.  It isn't just filled with celebrity stories, but many human interest stories about ordinary and extraordinary people.
Why?  I've already seen all of the pictures for free online.  Maybe I'll flip through the magazine at the store, but there is no way I'm buying it.

Maybe if Brad and Angie are so wonderful, they will match that $14 million with $14 million of their own money - $28 million for charity.  Maybe then I'll pony up $4 for a horrible magazine.
Definitely. They are beautiful family; Brad and Angie care about what's going on in this world. May GOD blesses them.
Charity is always a wonderful thing but the jolie-pitts have started a terrible trend of selling babies out for profit with all the other celebs who aren't donating to charity. I am also non renewing People because I am tired of seeing baby after baby on the cover.
I'm so tired of Brad and Angelina all over my tv, magazine.  I don't even watch any shows with them any more.  So no I will not pay one cent for the magazine because their kids are no better than my princess.
What's a couple of bucks for People magizine>>this will benefit people that really need help.  To bad there weren't more people that really care about helping others. I applaud the both of them.
Pay? Why pay when you can go to gossip websites were there are kind enough people to upload the whole series of photos.

Are these celebrities worthy of recognition that they pro-created?  Are they superior to all others that we need to drool over them?  How do celebrities and their children truly relate to the everyday non-celebrated citizen of the Earth?

Most importantly to ponder: is this a true example of raising children, bartering and parading their children as fundraising cases? What purpose has this particular clan shown in ostensibly showcasing their children?

Are we that lost and dissatisfied with our own lives and families to look at this particular clan as an example of true nexus of family values?
Why do we keep praising unwed parents.  Brad and Angelina do good work in other countries so when are they going to do good work in this country.  They had twins who cares they aren't the first and won't be the last.  Plus they aren't the first to have kids period.  Why can't we all get this kind of recognition when we have kids.  Give it a break they are nothing special.
Are you kidding? Why buy it? I'll just look at them while waiting in line at a store and then kindly put it back on the shelf!! No way am I spending money on goofy magazines that really just need to be recycled into something more useful.
I will absolutely not, never in a million years contribute to the exploitation of these babies.  These movie stars that take money for pictures of their newborn babies... it makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
I would rather pay for my own lobotomy.
Nope, I will never spend any money on those two hypocrites, at least until they start caring about all the kids who are here in the US who need good homes and need to be loved.  If they are such caring and humanatarian people then how come we have not heard about them visiting orphanages here in the US and helping our orphaned and neglected children.  Why only in New Orleans Brad?? What about the rest of the country who have placed you and Angelina in the status you are now?  Don't they deserve your attention as well??? Apparently not! We only matter when your movies come out and you need us to plunk down some money so that the producers aren't completley broke after paying your outrageous salaries!  Hypocrites, the world could do without more of them!
All those who say "nay" are being hypocritical.  Simply putting your little digits to the keyboard detects a note of interest... otherwise why give two of the kindest human beings on the planets the time of day.  Shame on you.
Nope - Saw it for free on line.  No big deal.
When are we going to STOP saying what wonderful people these two are?  Are they teaching morality? NO
and I would surely hate for either of my boys to say HE is their role model. If they stayed in France forever and I never had to hear about either of them, it wouldn't bother me a bit.  If they keep having children you can't tell me they get attention that they deserve; just having money and buying them toys or taking them places isn't "attending" to them either.  Stop having and adopting and take care of the ones you already have!!
You've got to be kidding! As much as this couple are potrayed as doing good work for several charities, lets not forget that their union started as an adulturous affair. What wonderful role models for their children and the rest of the world!! The media needs to get over this obsession. They say the fee will go to charity? They could so easily write a check for the same amount without putting their children under the glare of the whole world. Let's look at their parenting decisions here!!
I made this comment earlier and 2 hours and dozens of comments later, I just have to make it again. The question has been asked several times: "who cares?" The answer is: all of you who have taken time out of your lives to answer the question! Actually, if you've taken the time to actually read the blog post, you care. This entry was posted last night at 10pm EST and already there are two pages of comments, most from people who "don't care". So to all of you haters out there: get offline and go buy the magazine. Come on, you know you want to. Just stop belly-aching and go buy it already. That is, if you can find a copy, since all the other haters who "don't care" have probably already snatched it up.
I would LOVE to see the financials of the supposed charity that they donate all this money to! Is it public knowledge? So far, they should have practically obliterated hunger in the 3rd world countries with all this "donating".
Like another poster said eariler, why don't they help out more in the US, or make a large fund or charity that everyone can actually SEE helping people. Yes, yes, I know that Brad Pitt helps out in New Orleans, ok, fine...what about the rest of the country?
Why sell the pics anyway....just donate some of your OWN money!
How about 'How much would you pay the media to never write another story about this'?
Anne S of Dallas TX--Good job!  You hit the nail right on the head!  Wish I would have thought of that one!  Unfortunately, a large percentage of charities fall in this category.  Unnecessary travel, extravagent meals, lodging, offices etc.  A good time to remind people to check out the charities ratings before giving money--I know--I worked for one as an accountant--felt horrible about it and quit!
No, I won't buy it.  How many more children will she have out of wedlock?  It's not the childrens' fault but isn't having children out of wedlock a huge problem in this country?  Didn't she steal someone else's husband to do this?  And where are the morals in all of this?  Because they give the money to charity?? Yikes where are we headed with this?


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