Taylor Swift’s recent struggle with a stalker has shed light on the limitations of legal protection available to celebrities, with some experts noting the potential dangers of obsessive fans and the challenges of current laws.
The stalker is David Crowe, a man who has repeatedly appeared near Swift’s home, leading to multiple arrests and charges.
Despite efforts to keep Swift safe, legal measures have proven insufficient, raising concerns about the adequacy of existing laws and the potential risks posed by obsessive individuals.
Taylor Swift's alleged stalker arrested AGAIN shortly after release, third time in the last five days. pic.twitter.com/OWSMn2WOQ2
— ExtraTV (@extratv) January 25, 2024
“Taylor is so big. And like [John] Lennon and others, who have had tragic endings, because of [Taylor’s] ubiquity worldwide, it… invites those with mental illness at a scale and multiplier that is perhaps bigger than ever before,” branding expert Eric Schiffer said.
“Officers responded to a 911 call for a disorderly male in the vicinity of Franklin Street and Hudson Street, which is in the First Precinct,” the NYPD stated. “On arrival, a male left the location and walked into the First Precinct, where he was subsequently taken into custody without further incident. He was charged with four counts of criminal contempt.”
“Taylor has done everything she can to remain safe, but there are limits to how long he can be held in custody,” celebrity attorney Chris Melcher said.
“An emergency mental health admission or comprehensive psychiatric emergency admission is allowed under New York law, but those involuntary measures could also last for a short time,” he added.
Crowe looks to be “willing to continue to cycle in and out of jail to be close to his obsession,” Schiffer said.
“That scenario is amplified by the criminal justice system today that is far more lenient in certain cities, which frustrates stars – and many in the public – that want to see laws be tougher and judges hold people who break laws and not spin them right back out.”
“We see the stalker’s intense obsession, perhaps more in some ways, because of the connection that people feel they have to stars given social media, and the way in which stars can connect intimately,” Schiffer said. “Those that might have stalked in the past now have an even greater emotional obsession and feeling of intimacy that is not based in reality.”
“Taylor and other stars are balancing that. And that’s done through risk assessment. It’s done through proper planning,” he said. “And with Taylor, she’s got the budget to be able to keep herself protected with security, to not telegraph in all cases where she may be, and to be aware of the risks in real time – given the security budgets that she has.”
“But not every star has that, either budget or willingness to spend, or desire to bring on those sophisticated teams that can help.”
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