For all we like to joke about “crazy plane lady” Tiffany Gomas and her “fake” seatmate on American Airlines, she went through a lot after her freakout video went viral around the world…including having to endure stalkers camped out in front of her house in Texas. A police report concerning a laser pointer strikes me as poetic justice for the paparazzi camped out on her doorstep.
Crazy Plane Lady Endured Stalkers At Her House, But A Neighbor Tried To Help…With A Laser Pointer
Gomas became a “D-list” celebrity overnight for her mysterious conduct onboard an American Airlines flight. While she has now embraced a much more public persona, she immediately removed all her social media accounts and attempted to scrub her presence online in the aftermath of the incident.
That may have been strategic (and if so, brilliant) but it caused such interest in her that tabloids like the Daily Mail and New York Post sent out stalkers to Gomas’ house and paid them to sit there and wait…for days.
There are few jobs more miserable in my mind than being a paparazzi photographer. My clickbait is bad enough, but can you imagine just waiting in front of someone’s house all day hoping for an intrusive picture or two you could sell? Can you imagine just watching someone’s bedroom curtains hoping you can get a shot of them inside the privacy of their own home? What a way to make a living…
And when the paparazzi start chasing people in cars, I think they should be held liable for the foreseeable consequences (like for the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and Dodi Fayed). As in murder.
Anyway, Gomas shared a police report filed by one of her stalkers:
It alleges that a neighbor of Gomas shined a laser pointer toward the stalker…after he parked his Jeep for hours in front of her house for hours…
“My vision has not been impacted by this laser hit. I believe the effect of the laser was reduced to just being a red light due to having to pass through the home’s front window, my curved Jeep Wrangler windshield, and finally, my eyeglasses (Transition coating, darkened due to being out
in sunlight, and blue-coated for computer monitors). Had not all these barriers been in the way of the laser light, I could have easily been blinded or my camera CCD sensor damaged.“The editor at the NY Post asked me to not do anything immediately, in order to avoid ‘becoming the story.’ The next morning, he advised me to file a police complaint as soon as my assignment was completed.”
Forgive me for not being sympathetic. Shining a laser at someone cannot be condoned, but I would like to see more protection for people from scum like this who invade personal privacy in such an obtrusive way.
The First Amendment defense that the paparazzi are merely parked on a public street or standing on a public sidewalk should not overcome the reasonable expectation of privacy that people have in their own homes not to be photographed.
Anyway, while Gomas might be desperately trying to stay relevant as her “20 minutes of fame” nears an end, I do realize it must have been quite annoying not to be able to leave your house without being swarmed by pesky bottom feeders.
image: @Tiffany_Gomas / X
Who doesn’t see this ending with her starting an Only Fans?
Doubtful. She is already rather successful before her incident, and her social media doesn’t really scream excessive self-promotion. I’d say she’s playing it just right.
But no sympathy for the stalker.
@Jan … On an aircraft , we cannot allow one to upset or inconvenience passengers with one’s behavior . Actually , Not playing it right .
Playing it right *after* her incident
In the photo , she is wearing her blue jean waistband quite high . There must be a lot of blue jean below the waistband .
Gomas isn’t going anywhere. She has done a very good job showcasing her PR skills. As to the paparazzi, when you invade the privacy of others don’t expect a lot of sympathy.
I agree. She has shown herself to be a wise and clever user of the media to her advantage so far and I wouldn’t be surprised if she does not parlay her looks and media savvy into more.
maybe a banana in the tailpipe would have been better?
I wonder how these guys can look at themselves in the mirror in the morning and if they are proud of their role in society?
Why is it that I never get lucky enough to sit next to people like this on planes?
I have 5 mutual friends with her. All real estate agents or douchebags.
Are those two things mutually exclusive?
Princess Di she is not. I’m a little surprised tabloid media sees her as relevant enough to keep paparazzi posted up in front of her house. Though I’m not exactly the target audience of the NY Post and the Daily Mail.
The green jeep is not real
ROTFL
Maybe the Texas state legislature could have a temporary moment of sanity and pass legislation that holds paparazzi liable as you suggest. They have managed to do the nearly impossible: make crazy woman seem like a sympathetic figure.
Don’t be silly. If you propose sane legislation in the Texas Legislature, Dan Patrick will have you primaried in the next cycle by a high school dropout that believes the Earth is flat, and somehow the constituents in your affluent suburb will elect them.
This woman is still a thing?
I’m disappointed she isn’t banned from flying.