TMZ Takes Blogging to a New Low, Sponsored by AT&T

Earlier today TMZ had a live camera spying on people trying to eat at the Urth Cafe on Melrose. They almost seemed giddy about the fact that they were going to hopefully deliver the world video images of the likes of Us Weekly celebs buying, uh, coffee.

When the cameras weren't being shut down by Johnny Law, all they really documented were the sweaty backs of hard-working busboys. But still, wtf, TMZ? You're in an industry where the stars literally spread their legs for you and this is where you think you need to stoop?

Bad enough that TMZ has decided to sully the good name of blogging (since it's clearly not journalism) while attempting to pull off such a stunt, but look who's advertising, thus supporting, TMZ's blatant invasion of privacy: none other than AT&T, the Bell who will do you well if the name of your game is spying... allegedly.

Ironically enough, a retired AT&T employee, a key eyewitness, is speaking in Washington this week to blow the whistle on the phone company and their role in the official type of domestic spying.

Acronyms of a feather...

Update: TMZ's Publicist / Marketing Manager Carolyn Fenton writes in to clarify that the outrage is not a bug, but a feature, and it does not have a specific sponsor per se:

Hi Tony:

With regard to your post, “TMZ Takes Blogging to a New Low, Sponsored by AT&T,” it should be noted that AT&T is NOT sponsoring this feature. They are simply advertising throughout the site.

Best,

Carolyn

screenshot of TMZ.com taken at 2:02 pm today