CHER - CHER SLAMS PAPARAZZI 'SCUM'

Pop veteran CHER has hit out at the paparazzi, labelling photographers who follow her around "scum". The If I Could Turn Back Time singer insists she can no longer venture out of her Los Angeles home without snappers recording her every move - a situation she claims would never have occurred 10 years ago. The 61-year-old says, "The paparazzi have moved into my town. I used to be able to run around in sweats. Now I'm a prisoner. "I think 'scum' is the perfect word for these people. They're meaner now. Before, they would be happy to get a picture. Now they want something salacious or to make you look bad. Everything's more mean-spirited now."