Gabriele Paolini
Encyclopedia
Gabriele Paolini is a famous Italian television
prankster and condom
advocate. He calls himself the "prophet of the condom" and "the prophylactic prophet." In Italy
he is also referred to as a disturbatore televisivo, which means a television disturber. His antics usually involve exhibiting condoms in the background behind interviews or other unwitting live reporters. He has also been involved with singing contests and sporting events.
Gabriele Paolini began his career as a "television polluter" when a friend of his died of AIDS
at age 22, contracting the disease some years after unprotected sex with a prostitute. Paolini's reaction was to invade TV news reports wearing or waving chains of condoms. Sometimes Paolini also uses a photo of a politician or of the Pope
.
The son of a retired general, Paolini is in the Guinness Book of Records for his more than 30'000 very short appearances waving over the shoulders of hundreds of displeased TV journalists.
Over the years, Paolini has angered many in the media. During one interrupted interview, journalist Paolo Frajese began to kick Paolini. Journalists have asked the legal office of RAI TV in Saxa Rubra for a legal injunction to "eliminate the disturber." In response, Gabriele Paolini showed the media a list of interviewers who had in fact requested his presence. However, Italy's Supreme Court upheld a three month suspended sentence against him. TG5
editor-in-chief Salvo Sottile and communications expert Enrico Mieli launched a petition on Facebook
to "abolish" Paolini from the Italian television due to his insensitivity.
On March 5, 1995, Paolini personally disguised a condom as a request in a paper and gave it to Pope John Paul II
at a church in Rome.
In 2008, Paolini was sentenced to a 5-month prison term for offenses against the Pope, stemming from his actions in 2005 when he interrupted a live TV show of RAI TV insulting the Pope and the Italian premier.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
prankster and condom
Condom
A condom is a barrier device most commonly used during sexual intercourse to reduce the probability of pregnancy and spreading sexually transmitted diseases . It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner...
advocate. He calls himself the "prophet of the condom" and "the prophylactic prophet." In Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
he is also referred to as a disturbatore televisivo, which means a television disturber. His antics usually involve exhibiting condoms in the background behind interviews or other unwitting live reporters. He has also been involved with singing contests and sporting events.
Gabriele Paolini began his career as a "television polluter" when a friend of his died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
at age 22, contracting the disease some years after unprotected sex with a prostitute. Paolini's reaction was to invade TV news reports wearing or waving chains of condoms. Sometimes Paolini also uses a photo of a politician or of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
The son of a retired general, Paolini is in the Guinness Book of Records for his more than 30'000 very short appearances waving over the shoulders of hundreds of displeased TV journalists.
Over the years, Paolini has angered many in the media. During one interrupted interview, journalist Paolo Frajese began to kick Paolini. Journalists have asked the legal office of RAI TV in Saxa Rubra for a legal injunction to "eliminate the disturber." In response, Gabriele Paolini showed the media a list of interviewers who had in fact requested his presence. However, Italy's Supreme Court upheld a three month suspended sentence against him. TG5
TG5
TG5 is the brand for Italian TV channel of Mediaset network Canale 5's news programmes. They are shown domestically on Canale 5 and Mediaset Plus several times throughout the day. The audience of this newscast, notably in its 08:00 PM edition, has by far the highest audience among commercial TVs...
editor-in-chief Salvo Sottile and communications expert Enrico Mieli launched a petition on Facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
to "abolish" Paolini from the Italian television due to his insensitivity.
On March 5, 1995, Paolini personally disguised a condom as a request in a paper and gave it to Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
at a church in Rome.
In 2008, Paolini was sentenced to a 5-month prison term for offenses against the Pope, stemming from his actions in 2005 when he interrupted a live TV show of RAI TV insulting the Pope and the Italian premier.