BEACH BLANKET BRAWL: Matthew McConaughey Session Incites Paps Smear
by Scott Bass
Senior Online Editor SURFER Magazine
The Jets and the Sharks square off in Westward Beach Side Story.
June 22, 2008 – Malibu area beachgoers attacked a group of paparazzi as they photographed Matthew McConaughey surfing at Little Dume on Saturday, June 21. The incident was videotaped and can be seen on websites TMZ.com and x17video.com.
The edited video shows a group of approximately 14 caucasian male adults in their early to mid-twenties, some holding and drinking what appears to be alcoholic beverages, approaching a group of photographers. A verbal confrontation begins when the beachgoers suggest a ‘fight for the beach’ with the beachgoers taking on the photographers—-call it Westward Beach Side Story. The video then shows one of the beachgoers, let’s call him Britney (for the beer pouch, not the zip code, he shares with Ms. Spears), approach one of the photographers in an aggressive manner. The photographer tells Britney, “I have called the police, they are coming right now.” Another photographer berates the group of men saying, “you look stupid right now.”
He nailed it.
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The confrontation escalates with various verbal darts hurled from both sides. The video then shows the beachgoers gaining valuable ground as the photographers back up in unison. Things get shaky at this point but it appears as if a beachgoer grabs one of the photographers’ cameras as the other beachgoers flank and surround one of the slower photographers. Then Britney dares the photographer to “hit me.” In what could be described as a defensive attack, or General Custards last stand, the photographer swings his camera laden monopod striking Britney twice. The video goes “Blair Witch Project”, lots of commotion, screaming and upside down camera angles with room for a really bad sequel.
Many of the reporting websites are suggesting the confrontational beachgoers are actually surfers protecting their turf. If wearing the latest brand of boardshorts makes you a surfer, then yes, they were surfers. That same logic would make Borat a diplomat and me a golfer. The video does not show any of the confrontational beachgoers actually riding waves or holding surfboards.
Surfers or not, the video is disturbing.
According to KTLA.com, as of Sunday police have made no arrests, although one photographer filed a battery report.
The paparazzi in and around Malibu, known as “pap packs” or “paps” have drawn the ire of local residents. According to an AP report, the city’s Mayor, Pamela Conley Ulich, has turned to Kenneth Starr, investigator of the Monica/Clinton mess, and dean of the law school at Pepperdine University in Malibu, to help draft an ordinance to protect the town’s famous from attaining unwanted or unsolicited publicity. According to the report, many Malibu residents complain of black SUVs driving recklessly through the streets in irresponsible attempts to capture images of Malibu’s elite.
It is still not known whether McConaughey caught any good waves.
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Reader Comments
Posted Sun Jun22, 2008, 7:33 PM — By Freeshredder
This article is bs, fuk the paparazzi, Famous People neeed to surf more sneakily
Posted Sun Jun22, 2008, 10:06 PM — By tripp
I'm suprised Surfer Mag would post something so trashy. Pull this report from your site. There is nothing surf related in this post except the fact that somebody may have been surfing.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 12:39 AM — By sam
Funny this article is posted right after the "should we cover localism" poll. Good job pulling the news off the BB, Bassy. You're a crack reporter if ever there was one.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 2:45 AM — By Erich
HAHAHAHAHAHA
I LOVE YOU GUYS!
That video was insane and the media automatically labels them surfers? Both parties got out of hand, but come on, because those guys don't want the paparatsi there on the beach, (supposedly) "exposing" their spot they are called "territorial surfers"??? hahahaha
hilarious! AND I just checked out the vid (surfer attack #2) from today! DUDE... The surfer girl is a bad ass!!! You'd think the paparatsi would have learned a lesson already.
Oh and has anyone found out what McConaughey was/is riding??? hahahahahaha
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 5:27 AM — By matt
i've never before seen such ignorance. Surfer please take this down it really doesn't warrant anymore publicity.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 7:37 AM — By Joel A
C'mon people. some lame surf star wannabe is filmed at a private beach by paparrizzi and local kooks smack them down. Has all the elements I'd say. Hollywood guy = lots of mainstream clicks, localism = lots of core clicks, private vs. public = surfrider sympathy. The fact that Bass took a stand for surfers by NOT calling them surfers is worthy of some kudos. The whole thing is pretty stupid and I'd say bass put it in the proper perspective. Dudes, if you are expecting The Economist go read the Economist. That girl is badass.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 7:52 AM — By CHRIS I
I JUST WATCHED THE VIDEO. YOOU GOTTA ADMIT THE BRITNEY THING IS PRETTY GOOD. THE PAPARRIZZI ARE WAY OUT OF HAND. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE LAST OF THIS. FROM WHAT I'M HEARING IT WILL BE LONG SUMMER. I BET MORE ANTI-PAPS ACTION IS BEING PLANNED. TMZ TONIGHT, FRONT STORY. YOUR SON CAUGHT ON TAPE "I PARTY AND DRINK BEER."
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 8:51 AM — By Whamo
Anyone who has surfed Malibu that isn't a local gets bad vibes from the locals. They have a bad reputation for spoiling a good surf. Maybe these guys weren't surfers, but they are Malibu locals. Let's hope the police prosecute these punks. They certainly were brave, ganging up on the poor slob. On the positive side, it's cool that Matt has the surfing bug, and maybe the Malibu police will do a better job of patroling Paradise Cove. And, yes, the paparrazzi are out-of-hand. If you're going to beat them up, do it off camera. Don't be stupid, like these guys, and do it in front of two video cameras. It's on the L.A. Times! The police will see it, and, probably prosecute.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 11:38 AM — By JP
I heard that there was a war going on in Iraq and that regular gas is almost $5 a gallon.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 12:18 PM — By jerry
that girl deserves to get her trashy ass laid out the camera man should have knucked her why do all those people give a shit they act like its pipe and its some little beach break in malibu prety lame
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 1:57 PM — By oasktf
Matthew McConaughey is a caring/sharing individual. He went to a party in Malibu a couple of nights ago and got two bj's. He came back to the crib and gave me one.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 3:13 PM — By thane of cor.
As the video shows: self-appointed enforcers of "localism" are neither the best surfers nor very bright. Hope Matty caught a few Pt. Dume peelers.
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 5:01 PM — By John Paul Taylor
just kick back... love one another
Posted Mon Jun23, 2008, 5:41 PM — By Hefe
That chick needed to get cracked! She's lipping cause she's a chick and doesn't think she'll get hit. Somebody should've laid her flat. It's Malibu, people! It's not some hidden LA county secret spot. "You'll never be allowed back here." Get f--ckin real!
Posted Tue Jun24, 2008, 3:16 AM — By Max
Okay, either Scott Bass is grossly uninformed or he's trying to cover things up. Virtually ALL the "beachgoers" in the footage ARE surfers, most are Pt Dume locals and a few even surf NSSA. This confrontation has NOTHING to do with Mathew M, and everything to do with fiercely local surfers that don't want photos or video taken of their waves. Now you know, Pt Dume ranks right up there with Oxnard and PV in terms of hard-core local vibe. Trying to pretend these guys aren't surfers is just stupid. Come on Bass!
Posted Tue Jun24, 2008, 2:56 PM — By Skyler Peak
Ummmm... If you lived in Malibu you would understand! The beach the paps were at is a completely private beach that is open to only Point Dume residents. This is a simple example of keeping a place pure and riding it of unwanted guests! Some say localism, we say maintenance. It just like if someone was outside your house taking pictures of people inside, you would have words and want them to never come back! That what happend!
Posted Tue Jun24, 2008, 9:07 PM — By Dork
aha, bunch of cali wankers
Posted Wed Jun25, 2008, 2:03 PM — By Duc
The only thing more pathetic than a Malibu local kook trying to protect their shitty wave is a Venice beach local kook trying to protect an even shittier wave.
Maybe their celebutards can pay to have the Channel Islands moved so they can get more than 5 days of overhead waves a year.
Posted Wed Jun25, 2008, 4:53 PM — By Marty
This is Paradise Cove where wannabee rich kids that live in trailer homes try to act like Da Hui and protect their longboard waves. NONE of these barns surf well, they're just derelicts sipping away mommy and daddy's money down at 'the hut'.
These 'locals' ought be ashamed of themselves, their thoughtless actions affect the image of our entire community and our entire sport.
someone's head needs to roll for this behavior
Posted Thu Jun26, 2008, 10:03 AM — By Malibu Resident
For the record, I was surfing with Matt McConaughey while the altercation took place. He got some great rides and is a pretty good surfer.
Posted Thu Jun26, 2008, 12:00 PM — By Former Camper
People get your facts straight and do your research before you print bogus information!! The guy you refer to as "Britney" is actually an internationally accomplished surfer and a stand-up guy that grew up in Malibu. He is also college educated and has worked since he's a teen - NOT a rich kid wannabe!! His only crime is trying to retain the integrity of what makes Malibu one of the most beautiful beach cities in the U.S. The paps REALLY need to stop stalking celebrities - they pose a danger for themselves and everyone around them.
Posted Thu Jun26, 2008, 3:57 PM — By Mike E.
"The guy you refer to as "Britney" is actually an internationally accomplished surfer and a stand-up guy that grew up in Malibu. He is also college educated and has worked since he's a teen - NOT a rich kid wannabe!!"
i find this extremely hard to believe given the way he was acting. Anyone who has traveled extensively internationally usually understands the concept of 'sharing' his or her spot with visitors. I tried to surf here myself and got harrassed.
I seriously hope that any industry people reading this would seriously think twice about endorsing ANYONE that is shown in this video.
Posted Thu Jul 3, 2008, 12:37 PM — By pat
I've seen Matt paddle out about everyday for the past 4 years and he still can't even paddle! Talk about being uncoordinated.
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