Brangelina's Pay for Play

A couple of days ago I was feeling sympathy for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. They had gone to Namibia to hole up in a luxury resort to get away from the paparazzi trying to snap some candids of them and their yet-to-be-born baby and were feeling under siege.

"As for the press, we kindly ask for privacy so that we can enjoy this beautiful country with our children,” the couple pleaded in a joint statement. The Namibian Prime Minister Nahas Angula defended them, saying they should be left alone.

"This lady is expecting. You guys are harassing her. Why don't you allow her some privacy? If a person says they don't want to be photographed then, of course, that person deserves protection."

I felt for them. Leave them alone, I thought, they aren’t playing the publicity game, they are just trying to have some privacy. Oh what a sucker I am. Seems they don’t mind a little coverage, as long as it is under their own terms.

On Wednesday's Today show, correspondent Ann Curry described her trip to Namibia, where she exclusively interviewed Jolie, as "wonderful." (Thanks to Celebrity Nation for the pic.) The segment will air on Thursday’s Today and Sunday’s Dateline, where Jolie will explain that the public's interest causes her to "giggle.” Ahh, ain’t that sweet.

Meanwhile Namibia’s Ministry of Information is requiring any journalist visiting to cover the Pitt-Jolie stay "will have to be accompanied by proof of consent that the couple had agreed to meet with them,” one photographer was pepper sprayed by a security guard and there is a no-fly-zone over the resort. As well there are reports that Jolie has sold exclusive rights for the first pictures of the baby to People, which would in turn donate $3.5 million to UNICEF.

And there goes my sympathy.