Have  you ever fantasized about what it would be like to walk the red carpet just ahead of accepting your Academy Award or receiving a Nobel Prize for developing a cure for cancer or getting worldwide recognition for being the first passenger to board a maiden voyage to Mars? Everyone wants to feel important and special. Fame can be an aphrodisiac. But there can be a downside.

Listen to what Jennifer Garner had to say in her People magazine interview published today. The 46 year old award-winning actress, mother and former wife of mega star Ben Afflick lamented that being under the microscope from tabloid coverage stressed her immensely and adversely affected her marriage “I could cry thinking about it."

Garner said that at any time, there were five or six cars, in effect, 'stalking' her family to try to get dirt on the celebrity couple and their three children Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6. One can only wonder what havoc this will wreak on a parent who has to worry about the paparazzi constantly descending on their kids. We all have read about how aggressive these photographers can be -- particularly given the big money they get for candid shots.

Among celebrities who have spoken out about photographers chasing them, and particularly hounding children, are Amal and George Clooney who were understandably upset that a tree was scaled so illegal photos of their infant twins could be garnered. Halle Berry testified before legislators in 2013, "We're moms here who are just trying to protect our children."

One of the most distressing cases of over zealous paps is the tragic case of Princess Diana who was killed in a Paris tunnel after paparazzi were chasing her car at a high rate of speed. Prince Harry has condemned the perpetrators in a documentary that came out last year about those who took pictures of his mother as she lay dying.

There is no question that constant scrutiny imposes an enormous burden on the recipient. Garner did not directly blame the paparazzi for the dissolution of her marriage, but she did feel there was a contributing factor. She said, if there is any inkling of trouble, or if the tabloids decide there’s trouble, it can create trouble.”

I remember a big story coming out about Ben Affeck's alleged affair with the couple's nanny. Garner had this to say, "she had nothing to with our decision to divorce."

Both the press and the paparazzi can get it wrong, very wrong, in the way they gather information and report it. Whether you are a celebrity or 'commoner,' you have the right to privacy and that should be respected -- especially for children.