Re: Oh Baby
Recently, Sandra Bullock introduced her new son to the world via the cover of People magazine. The adoption of Louis began in January but Bullock says she chose not to announce the news then in order to keep the craziness of awards season away from the newborn. Presumably, the craziness of shocking everyone with the unexpected news on the cover of a magazine two months later was somehow less stressful for him. Bullock also used the People interview to confirm her plans to divorce Jesse James.
Bullock didn’t need good PR but her cherubic new son certainly doesn’t hurt the cause. Now she is America’s sweetheart and loving mother. The issue reportedly sold 2.7 million copies in its first week, making it a strong bet to outsell the 2.2 million copies sold when Brangelina’s daughter Shiloh was featured on the cover.
While Brad and Angie’s 27 kids receive more photo coverage than Obama, they have some competition. From her high heel dance shoes to her clothes to her use of a baby bottle (please introduce sippy cups TomKat!), Suri Cruise is everywhere. Other celebrity offspring who get more press than their parents: Gwen Stefani’s boys, Jennifer Garner’s girls and Halle Berry’s and Jessica Alba’s daughters. Kids of celebrities even have an official blog, again courtesy of People magazine. Here you can see special “Family Albums” of kids plus famous parents in addition to one-off “Spotted” photos snapped of actors with their children in a city or playground near you. In parks, on the sidewalk, in a cafe sipping lattes, they’re all adorable but so are lots of kids.
So why the big love for the children of celebrities? If you’re a celebrity, the advantage of having a happy family snap published online or in a magazine is an obvious one. This is perhaps why so many photos show celebrity parents proudly smiling for the camera. 
If you’re a fan of celebrity off-spring, the reasons are less clear. Curiosity plays a part. Two beautiful people make a beautiful kid right? Or maybe not which is even more reason to want to see a photo. If a celebrity’s child is caught on video throwing a temper tantrum, as Suri Cruise was a few years ago by TMZ, does that make parents feel better? Is it a case of celebrity parents: they’re just like us? Except for most of the population, they’re not. They have nannies and their kids sometimes wear Dior.
Pictures of the children of famous people are part of the production of celebrity culture. As a celebrity, your image is your brand and happy, cute children are a boost to any brand whether that brand is Sandra Bullock or People magazine. So Sandra’s choice to use People as her birth announcement is less about celebrating her new beginning and more about constructing a clear role for herself in the public eye. She is now Mother Goddess to Jesse James’ Nazi Devil.
She is also apparently, a hero in New Orleans, the birthplace of her son. The news of the adoption prompted this response from New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin:
“Congratulations to Sandra Bullock and her new son. Since Hurricane Katrina, Americans have prayed for us, given their time as volunteers in our community, and demanded that no other city ever go through what New Orleans experienced. Sandra Bullock has become one of us. We wish this new mother every success.”
Everyone, it seems, benefits from celebrity off-spring.
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