Stacey Solomon says media intrusion into family life should be illegal

Photographers sitting outside a residential Essex gate represent a line that television presenter Stacey Solomon insists has gone too far. The 37-year-old reality star stated she feels as though she is being stalked by the media, describing recent press intrusion into her family life as outrageous.

The Boundaries of Celebrity Culture

While discussing the return of her reality television programme with husband Joe Swash, Solomon acknowledged that public scrutiny comes with the territory of fame. Having risen to prominence on ITV talent show The X Factor in 2009, she understands the transactional nature of the entertainment industry.

I think for a long time in celebrity culture, there was this expectation that you put yourself in the public eye so you deserve this treatment, she remarked, according to reporting by rte.ie. She added that chance encounters in public spaces remain fair game, noting, If me and Joe go out in the public and there happens to be somebody there and they get a picture of us, that’s fair game. That’s part and parcel of this industry. We do draw the line though.

Yahoo News Malaysia reported that Solomon expressed bewilderment at the rising levels of interest in her personal life, noting that she has recently been subject to a press “pile-on.”

Protecting Children at Pickle Cottage

To me that’s no longer of public interest. It’s outrageous, in fact. There’s no need to be followed around to family events. It should be illegal – these are kids. It’s just weird.

Stacey Solomon

The couple met in 2010 during her stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! where Swash co-hosted the spin-off show. They began a relationship in 2016 and married in 2022.

Solomon Reconsiders Online Sharing to Protect Family Safety

The heavy media presence has forced a shift in how the family operates online. Solomon admitted that the persistent intrusion has made her reconsider what details she shares on social media platforms.

Maybe it will make us think of things differently moving forward, she stated. Hopefully, I’ll be able to stick up for myself enough for them to stop being inappropriate. But if I need to do something to stop this happening, then I’ll do it. The safety of my family comes before absolutely everything.

The fly-on-the-wall series Stacey & Joe, which launched in 2025, captures domestic life featuring the couple, their children, ducks, and two dogs. The programme returns to BBC One on Tuesday, November 10 at 8pm, with all episodes simultaneously available on BBC iPlayer.