Sophie Turner criticizes 'disgusting' paparazzi photos: Stars who beg for children's privacy

Sophie Turner joins a growing list of celebrities advocating for their children's privacy from the paparazzi.

The "Game of Thrones" alum took to Instagram this week after paparazzi photos of her 10-month-old daughter Willa with Joe Jonas were published without her consent.

"It's (expletive) creepy that grown old men taking pictures of a baby without their permission," she said in an Instagram Story that has since been deleted. "I'm sickened, I'm disgusted and I'm respectfully asking everyone to stop following us around and stop trying to take pictures of our daughter and especially printing them."

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner welcome first child together

'Mr and Mrs Jonas': Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas share first photo from wedding in France

The new parents, who married in May 2019, have kept their daughter out of the public eye since she was born. Turner first sparked pregnancy rumors in early 2020 after she was spotted in several photographs with a baby bump. But the two did not comment on the pregnancy publicly, choosing to keep the news private until the baby was born.

Turner and Jonas quietly announced the birth of their daughter in July, although they didn't reveal much detail at the time. "Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are delighted to announce the birth of their baby," read a statement from publicist Gertie Lowe to USA TODAY.

Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas had a surprise Las Vegas wedding

The couple hasn't shared any photos of their daughter on Instagram and Turner said in her video this week that's intentional: "The reason that I am not posting pictures of my daughter and making sure that we can avoid paparazzi at all costs is because I explicitly do not want those photos out there...She did not ask for this life, to be photographed. It's disgusting."

Diane Kruger, Chris Pratt shield their young children

Although celebrities often acknowledge they have signed up for the glitz and glam of fame – and the ensuing invasion of privacy that comes with it – many stars have said their offspring should be be shielded from the public eye.

In January 2019, Diane Kruger made a heartbreaking plea on Instagram for the public to respect her newborn child's privacy after unauthorized photos of her baby with actor Norman Reedus were leaked online.

The actress uploaded one of the unauthorized photos to her Instagram account – blurring her daughter's face – and said that while she understood the curiosity in wanting to see what her child looks like, she wants her daughter to grow up in privacy.

"Dear fans, dear non fans, dear paparazzi and anyone with a conscience," Kruger started her emotional open letter. "These pictures were taken without our consent and expose a vulnerable and innocent baby. While we understand that some people would like to see a picture of our daughter, we as parents, want nothing more than allow her to grow up in privacy and safety."

Diane Kruger begs for her baby's privacy after paparazzi photos circulate

Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt agreed to keep their 9-month-old daughter Lyla's face off social media until she is old enough to make her own choices.

"I think that one of the greatest gifts that my parents ever gave me and my siblings is the gift of privacy and having a really normal upbringing," Schwarzenegger, the daughter of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger, said on the "Today" show in March.

Katherine Schwarzenegger won't share photos of her daughter with Chris Pratt

She continued: "We were allowed to be our own people and have our own identity and kind of choose to step into whatever form of being public we wanted to when we felt comfortable. And I think that was such an incredible gift to have given us kids."

Stars embrace anti-paparazzi laws

Former child star Hilary Duff highlighted the constant barrage of tabloids, likening it to "stalking minors." In February 2020, the "Younger" star shared a confrontation she had with a photographer taking pictures of her son's soccer game: "Paparazzi shooting KIDS. Go 'practice' your photography on ADULTS! Creep! Laws need to change!… Disgusting!"

'This is stalking minors': Hilary Duff confronts photographer taking pics at son's game

Some celebrities have taken their complaints a step further.

In 2013, Halle Berry and Jennifer Garner both testified before the California Assembly Judiciary Committee in support of an anti-paparazzi bill limiting the ability of paparazzi to photograph children of celebrities and public figures. The bill passed and became California law in September 2013.

The law boosts penalties for actions that include taking photos and video of a child without parental consent and in a harassing manner.

"On behalf of my children, it is my hope that this is the beginning of the end for those overly aggressive paparazzi whose outrageous conduct has caused so much trauma and emotional distress," Berry said at the time.

Halle Berry happy about anti-paparazzi bill passage

Jennifer Garner describes being 'hounded 24/7 for 10 solid years' by photographers

"There was a solid decade where there were five or six cars minimum, and easily up to 15 or 20 on the weekends, outside of my house at all times," Garner told CBS This Morning in July 2018. "And looking back on that, I really feel the stress of it. I could cry, talking about it."

Although the harassment improved slightly with the law, Garner said the paparazzi problem has not gone away completely.

She recalled during a 2019 episode of "David Tennant Does a Podcast With…" that there were still "seven or eight" photographers outside of her children's school. She added, "They got way too close to the school and the head of the school was outside with me and I said, 'They're getting cheeky.' And he said, 'I'm going to call the police.'"

Other stars have focused directly on news outlets. In 2014, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard started a campaign on Twitter demanding all media pledge allegiance to their #NoKidsPolicy, promising not to publish photographs of celebs' children without their parents' permission.

Contributing: Rasha Ali, Gary Dinges, The Associated Press

Diane Kruger begs for her baby's privacy after paparazzi photos circulate

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sophie Turner criticizes 'disgusting' paparazzi photos of daughter