While it’s long been common for paparazzi to photograph television and film actors during on-location shoots—particularly in highly visible areas like New York City—there appears to be a notable shift in how quickly and widely those images now circulate. The rise of platforms like Instagram, X, and other social media channels has accelerated the dissemination of these photos, embedding them rapidly into online discourse and shaping public perception in real time, for better or worse.

Knowing in advance what Anne Hathaway’s character, Andy Sachs, will be wearing in the upcoming film has slightly dampened my excitement. I’d prefer to hold onto the mystery of Andy’s post-Runway evolution until the film actually hits theaters. The same goes for Ryan Murphy’s forthcoming Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy series. While I can’t help but eagerly consume every paparazzi shot of a newly blonde Sarah Pidgeon, the experience leaves me feeling overstimulated and vaguely unsettled—much like the aftermath of impulsively finishing an entire bag of gummy peach rings and calling it lunch.