Hawaii Senate Passes 'Steven Tyler Act'

When Steven Tyler speaks, lawmakers in Hawaii listen. The state Senate has passed an anti-paparazzi billed dubbed the "Steven Tyler Act" after the Aerosmith frontman kicked up a stink about unauthorized photos of him and his girlfriend taken inside his Maui home by a paparazzo with a telephoto lens, the AP reports. The act, which now moves to the state House, makes it possible to sue over "the constructive invasion of privacy" if somebody captures an image or recording of somebody " engaging in a personal or familial activity with a reasonable expectation of privacy. "

Tyler and other celebrities including Fleetwood Mac drumer Mick Fleetwood testified about how intrusive press photographers had made it tough to relax with their families. National media organizations testified in opposition but only two of the chamber's 25 lawmakers voted against the bill, including Sam Slom, its sole Republican. "My final remarks to Steven Tyler—as he sang so eloquently—are, 'Dream on, dream on,'" he said, describing the bill as an attack on First Amendment rights. (More Steven Tyler stories.)