Being famous is still one of modern markers of success, but, glamorous as it may be, one of the dangerous side effects is still the unwanted attention it can bring. And, unfortunately, it’s often famous women - a countless list, recently featuring the likes of Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Lily Allen, the Kardashians - which fall victim to the toxic, insidious crime of stalking.
However, two stories, which have both broken within the last couple of days, are a reminder that male celebrities are also held god-like by obsessive fans, which can result in terrifying ordeals. Chris Martin has reportedly filed a restraining order against a female stalker who believes she is dating the Coldplay frontman. It’s been reported - by The Blast - that the musician is becoming “increasingly worried” by the stalker, who is alleged to have “placed a package” outside his US home. Adding increasing concern, it has been reported that letters from the woman, who Chris says is a "complete stranger", make references to his children, daughter Apple and son Moses. The woman is believed to have an “extensive criminal past”, and it's also been said a “supporting declaration” has been made by his security guard. Chris has requested that his girlfriend, Dakota Johnson, and his children come under the terms of protection - and until a court hearing next month, the woman must stay at least 100 yards away until a court hearing next month. (His ex-wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, has also been victim to stalking too. In 2000, pizza delivery boy Dante Michael Soiu sent her up to five letters a day with flowers, chocolates, packages of porn and pizza.)
It was also reported yesterday that Justin Bieber had his hotel room broken into - though it is unsure if the woman is a stalker or not, and if the ‘break in’ was deliberate. TMZclaim the woman, who was charged with trespassing, was drunk and entered Bieber’s hotel room by “mistake”, and the incident was later confirmed to E! by a police spokesperson. (Bieber was later said to be ‘just fine’ by a spokesman.) Yet, however, in 2013, Bieber was victim of a castration plot by male prison inmate Dana Martin, who was jailed for life for the rape and murder of a 15-year old girl. In a bizarre case, the prisoner asked his fellow inmate, Mark Staake, and Mark’s nephew Tanner Ruane to find Justin, kill him and cut off his penis. In a horrifying prison interview, Dana said: "If I was free, here's what I'd want to do—put Bieber in a cage, rape him repeatedly, and put it on YouTube."
Of course, these are not the first men in the public eye who have been stalked. One of the most famous stalker cases in history is John Lennon’s murder in 1980, where he shot Lennon after receiving an autograph. And Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake and Keanu Reeves have also had high-profile stalking cases. When Paladin, the National Stalking Advocacy Service, states that 1 in 10 men - compared to 1 in 5 women - will experience stalking in their adult life, it’s clearly an issue that affects everyone; male or female, famous or not.