That 'secret beach' paparazzi hideout was actually just a public pier

Remember those grainy shots of that actress supposedly hiding out from cameras in Malibu? Everyone thought she paid for some private spot. Turns out I was at the same pier last month fixing a buddy's truck nearby and recognized the railing in the pics. It's literally a public fishing dock with a taco stand 20 feet away. Whole gossip narrative about her 'mystery hideout' was built on nothing but an awkward angle and a long lens. Makes me wonder how many other 'exclusive' celeb stories are just someone standing in line at a food cart. Anyone else ever spot a gossip setting in real life and realize it was way more boring than reported?