Brangelina bad for press freedoms

Posted By Carolyn O'Hara Friday, June 16, 2006 - 6:19 PM Share

Britney Spears, in the wake of her weepy interview with Matt Lauer, wants to take a page out of Brangelina's book and give birth to her second child in Namibia. Namibian officials announced today that she may be introducing her little bundle of joy to the world via Namibia because officials there were so good at keeping reporters and photographers at bay during Brangelina's stay. In fact, the Namibians were so good at protecting the golden couple's privacy during Shiloh's eagerly-anticipated arrival that I wouldn't be surprised if the country's press freedoms rating gets a knock next year. After all, don't jailed reporters and condemnations from regional press boards land one in a little hot water with Freedom House? The organization says that "no serious abuses against journalists have been reported for several years" in Namibia. That was, however, before Mr. and Mrs. Smith arrived and set up a no-press zone. With Britney's due date approaching, let's hope Namibia doesn't decide to trade its "free" rating in order to be the next celebrity birthing It-locale.

EXPLORE:AFRICA, CULTURE, FREEDOM, MEDIA

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