Thank you very much! I´m from Brazil and I didn´t watch those videos.

Matt Bomer has made it abundantly clear in several interviews that his private life is not for public consumption. He wants people to focus on the characters he creates, not his personal life. He admires actors like Matt Damon who keep their personal life private and go to work and do their job.

Shooting a TV series is an exhausting grind. He works seventy hours a week on “White Collar”. He happily signs autographs and poses for pictures with fans while in the midst of a shoot. He does his best to promote “White Collar”, works the talk shows, and participates in countless interviews where he answers the same questions over and over. He is always professional, polite, and charming.

Matt deserves his privacy and time for himself so that he can be with family and friends, so that he can relax and recharge, and so that he can just be himself and not someone in front of a camera. Posting candids of him is an invasion of that privacy.

We can’t waffle and we can’t rationalize it by saying, “It’s okay to to post them if he doesn’t look annoyed and they aren’t too personal.” Matt is smart. He knows that giving an overt reaction to a paparazzi or anyone sneaking a photo of him will only invite more of those kinds of photos. And how do we decide what aspect of someone’s life is too personal to disclose? None of us know Matt Bomer and it is presumptuous of us to think that we can decide where to draw the line.

And by the way here’s what Matt Damon said in an interview in GQ, 2007.

“If this interview is totally bland? Nobody who gives me a job is ever gonna a shit. The only thing that can happen to my career in this situation is that I can get hurt. And the only way I can get hurt is if I talk too much. In my experience, the more you say, the dirtier you feel later when you look at it. Because it’s personal.”

and

“…from a creative standpoint, it hurts. Because the more I say, the harder it is for you to accept me as anything other than the person you know, and now you know things about me, you know?”

In the end, is this about Matt Bomer and supporting him or is this about feeding the public’s insatiable appetite for every scrap and detail about a celebrity’s personal life?

Kelly, you should do what you believe is the right thing to do, not what is popular or what others do.

And many thanks for the Paley videos.

I’m leaning toward removing them completely, but was curious to see what everyone’s opinions were. I’ve only posted 3 sets and have not posted some I feel were inappropriate.

Kelly, your web site is terrific. You’ve done an amazing job and you’ve done a lot to support Matt Bomer. I can’t speak for him, but I think he would appreciate the restraint and good judgment that you’ve shown. I certainly appreciate it. It couldn’t have been easy.

I don’t know Matt, but from what I’ve glimpsed of him through your web site with its many photos, videos, and interviews I respect him not only as a talented actor but also as a person. Matt Bomer is rare. The exterior package is stunningly gorgeous, but what’s inside the package is even better.

By respecting Matt Bomer, the person, and his privacy, maybe we can do our little bit so that hopefully he can always remain that person.

I didin’t see the origional question but I’m gonna throw my opinion in anyway. I agree with Melissa and Kelly. Everything’s already out there on the web anyway. If someone feels they need to see it, let them go find it themselves. Matt has always been very supportive of his fans and we should support his as well.

Everyone who is a fan of Matt’s knows how he feels about his privacy and this site has always been very respectful of that. I can only imagine that if Matt checks out the site, he’d be very proud of what Kelly’s done.

Thanks Kelly for always being awesome and please keep up the great work!

I guess I missed somethng.

@Rob: Sorry for the confusion. I posted a poll in the sidebar.

However all are right on the great site Kelly has created and managed here.

I’m sure whatever you decide it will be respectful. I can understand about the candids, but also remember that at times publicists do call paps as they want their clients photos taken doing “everyday things”. So it is a fine line to not cross. We can see them other places.

I agree with all the Kelly and Melissa have said. Matt is gorgeous on the outside but even more gorgeous on the inside. He deserves privacy and he deserves a lot more from his fans.

My 2 cents: I think the judgement Kellly has shown so far is perfect – not posting candids that could be an invasion of his privacy, but where Matt is just walking down the street smiling and doing chores, I see no problem with it.

As Lynne said, there is a certain side to the PR biz which encourages some candid photographs. I think PR peeps feel those can be beneficial to their clients to keep them in the public eye if they are on hiatus from working, for e.g.

I think one knows when one sees a set of candids if they are helpful and appropriate or invasive and unbeneficial. Kelly’s shown great judgement on that; I say just carry on doing what you’re doing, Kelly.

Although Matt needs publicity, people at JJ are extremely rude. That’s what I think, at least.

People leaving comments that is.

I don’t think it is invading someone’s privacy to take pictures of them IN PUBLIC. Public = not private

http://stalkingthebelleepoque.blogspot.com/2011/01/person-of-week-matt-bomer.html

“at times publicists do call paps as they want their clients photos take doing ‘everyday things’”

I’ve read this claim several times from people who make a living hawking photographs of celebrities. Given their obvious self-interest you have to have to question how much of that is just an excuse for what they do.

Typically candids do not show the celebrity looking their best. Why would someone whose living is based on how they look, on creating an image of glamor and excitement, want to be seen doing something mundane like pushing a cart of groceries in their ordinary street clothes, not looking their best, hair not fixed, make-up not done? Why would a publicist want their client being portrayed in any way that is not flattering to them?

A publicist might tip off paparazzi if one of their clients — say Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, or one of those D-list celebrities from one of those reality TV shows — “happens” to be at a trendy new restaurant or hot night club. In those kinds of publicity stunts the celebrity is likely getting paid for showing up. They are anything but candids of a celebrity going about “doing everyday things”.

“I think PR peeps feel those can be beneficial to their clients to keep them in the public eye if they are on hiatus from working, for e.g.

That is pure supposition, not based on any actual knowledge. To be more specific, you don’t actually know that Matt Bomer’s publicist operates that way or believes that candid photos are beneficial to him. For Matt candids can be especially harmful so why invite them in the first place? Why even open that door?

Suppositions about how publicists might or might not work are rationalizations to justify posting candids of Matt.

And we are talking about Matt Bomer here, not some celebrity. He’s a serious actor, dedicated to his craft. Matt has stated quite clearly that he didn’t get into acting for the purposes of fame or celebrityhood. Is there anything about him that would lead us to believe that he would want strangers taking pictures of him as he tries to go about leading his normal life? Just because he isn’t shouting at the photographer, or flipping the finger at him, or covering his head with a brown paper bag doesn’t mean he welcomes the intrusion.

“I don’t think it is invading someone’s privacy to take pictures of them IN PUBLIC. Public = not private.”

From a legal perspective that is true but just because something isn’t illegal doesn’t make it right. But I’m glad to know that you wouldn’t mind if someone snapped pictures of you whenever you went outside, whenever you tried to go anywhere with family and friends, or just whenever you tried to have time for yourself. Personally I’d be angry.

No matter how you rationalize it, posting candids has nothing to do with helping or supporting Matt. What it boils down to is this. Do you objectify Matt and so who cares what he thinks or feels or how it might affect him as long as we get we want? Or do you regard Matt Bomer as a person and respect his feelings and privacy?

For those who are against posting candids, do you feel the same way about “White Collar” set photos? They are still considered candids. I will make my decision on Thursday. Thanks everyone for your feedback.

Kelly, plz don’t stop posting the set photos. If Matt had an objection about posting the set photos, he could’ve easily said that. Some of them are posted by Jeff Eastin himself! Doesn’t everyone feel the same way?

Kelly, this is your (fantastic!!) site and whatever decisions you make, I support you 120%!! Take good care of yourself!! Thank you so much always!

As Milo pointed out, Jeff Eastin himself posts set photos, many far more ‘behind the scenes’ than the ones taken by other photographers. I’m sure the actors and producers consider set photos good publicity for the show. It would be a big loss to stop posting those.

Kelly, I think it’s also worth considering if you’ve had any kind of ‘official’ feedback re. the photos you post. It would be extremely easy for any of Matt’s ‘people’ to get in touch with you if they were unhappy with the content you post. If they haven’t, I think there’s not a problem. You already exercise great judgment.

Of course set photos are ok–the guys are working (and not as doctors or lawyers, but actors). At the end of the day though, when they’ve gone back to their apartments and realized they’re out of toothpaste, snapping them coming out of the walgreen’s with their tube of colgate is not ok. Imo.

I love the picture that you posted in you poll. I see no reason why that would be offensive to Matt. He is alone and has his dry cleaning with him. I don’t think a picture of that nature is invading his privacy. He is a star. It goes with the territory. People like to see candid pictures. Again I think your judgement has been great. Keep up the good work.

White Collar is a great family:D
Thanks for posting!

I have to agree with Carol A, as long as Matt alone (without family) it OK, because those pics you posted are the same as the ones from the set, nothing wrong with that!

Candids from the set are fair game, and fun to see. There are cameras everywhere on a set, and I don’t think there’s really an expectation of privacy there. (OK, use a little judgment if they catch him picking his nose or something…)

Candids from private life, however, are totally different. Becoming an actor does not mean giving up all rights to a private life. Matt gives plenty of himself doing lots of interviews – very entertaining interviews too. Let him have his privacy.

I think White Collar set photos are 100% okay! Unless there’s is something that you know isn’t right to post. But I trust your judgment, Kelly, and so far all the pics you posted are great and not too private. So go with your judgement and everything will be good, for Matt fans and for Matt too

I don’t think I have ever seen a fan website that is as conscientious about a star as this one! It is so refreshing to hear from people who actually care about the well being and privacy of the person that they love to watch! I truly hope that Mr. Bomer is aware of this site, and sees what care you take with what you include here. If everyone would only take a hint from sites like this one, there wouldn’t be so much “trash” out there.
Keep up the good work! I “tune in” to your site daily just to see what is new with this “wonderful inside and out” person / star.

Thank you so much Rhonda! Matt is aware of the site, so this makes me even more committed toward wanting to respect his personal life.

You are welcome Kelly!
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get Matt to post his own comment and actually give us HIS opinion? Then we wouldn’t have to wonder what he thinks is appropriate.
Just dreaming!!

Set photos are not the same as the candid photos being originally discussed. Pictures on the White Collar set are photos at the work place. The actors are on the job. They’re aware that there are cameras all around them. It’s not the same as when an actor is going about his normal life and someone ambushes them with a camera.

There are plenty of instances where fans have approached Matt and he has willingly signed autographs and posed for photos. It’s one thing to ask someone if you can take their picture and another thing to snap their photo without their consent. Saying that they’re celebrities and that they should expect it is just an excuse to justify bad behavior.

Of course fans want to see candid pictures. I want things, too, but I weigh my wants against respecting the rights and feelings of others.

Matt Bomer has made it unequivocal in interviews the boundary he has drawn around his private life. Many fans naturally want to push or redefine that boundary.

@Rhonda I can’t speak for others, but I don’t see Matt Bomer as just a celebrity or star. There’s a person there and from all accounts from everyone who’s worked with him, a pretty special person.