"Celeb Kids" Deserve to Have Their Boundaries Honored, Too

Dad and actor Jake Ejercito is considering legal action against a content creator who allegedly filmed his 13-year-old daughter, Ellie, without permission and posted the video on social media.

ALSO READ: Celebs Deserve Privacy Like Anyone Else

On Facebook, Jake urged his followers to report the now-deleted video, which showed Ellie with her mother, Andi Eigenmann. The actor claimed that his daughter "did not want to be in his video—let alone be posted by him."

"Clout-chasing should never come at the cost of someone's privacy, especially a minor's," he added.

Andi also criticized the content creator in the comments section of the video. She said, "Using minors for your content is disrespectful and exploitative. My daughter made it clear that we will not be okay with you doing this. And she is clearly uncomfortable. Build your platform on integrity. Don't use our daughter for clout."

In a follow-up post last Friday, Jake wrote, "Please continue reporting the page of this irresponsible clout chaser who ambushed a 13-year-old girl for views. I'm now in the process of exploring legal options."

As of writing, there have been no new public updates from Jake on whether he is pursuing the matter.

Respecting Celebrity Kids' Privacy

This incident raises questions about the privacy rights of children related to public figures. Whether they are children of celebrities or young celebrities themselves, these minors have personal boundaries that should be respected. A minor's need for safety and respect should always come before a stranger's curiosity or a content creator's desire for views.

A law supports this. In the Philippines, the Data Privacy Act of 2012 protects individuals from having their personal information, including images and videos, shared without consent. This legal framework applies to all, including minors.

RELATED: Just A Semi-Friendly Reminder: Celebs Don’t Owe Us Their Babies' Faces (Or Any Other Detail)

Unfortunately, celebrity parents sometimes face criticism when they defend their children's privacy. Some people argue that children of public figures have less expectation of privacy. However, there is an important distinction between being seen in public and being treated as public property, as well as parents being celebrities and their kids only being kids of celebrities and not celebrities themselves.

The issue involves balancing public interest with respect for the personal space of children connected to public figures. Regardless of their public status, "celebrity kids" should be allowed to have personal space and privacy. Remember: the kids of celebrities are not the same as celebrity kids.

May this remind us that the next time we see kids of celebrities in person, it is best to simply let them be.

Click here to discover helpful ways to protect children’s online privacy.