GTA V Paparazzo - The Meltdown Gold Medal Walkthrough

Paparazzo – The Meltdown is a Strangers and Freaks Mission (Side Quest) in GTA V (Grand Theft Auto 5). This walkthrough shows how to get all Gold Medals in Paparazzo – The Meltdown for 100% completion.

Gold Medal Requirements:

Thick of It: Stay close to Poppy throughout the chase
DUI Diva: Snap Poppy after she’s been cuffed

Walkthrough Video

Starting Location: Paparazzo – The Meltdown

Location: Varies
Quest Giver: Beverly (through phone text message)
Requirement: Complete “Paparazzo – The Partnership“
Can Be Started By: Franklin

Shortly after meeting Franklin in “Paparazzo – The Partnership”, Beverly will text him the location of two photo opportunities. When you reach the search area, Franklin will automatically call Beverly who will give him more details on each subject. Find the first on Vinewood Boulevard, where your previous target Poppy Mitchell is leading LCPD on a high speed chase!

Pursue Poppy

While on the phone with Beverly, Poppy’s dot will appear on the minimap heading west on Clinton Avenue. Quickly turn north on Power Street and follow her!

Slide in behind the police and try to keep up. Don’t run into the police or otherwise get their attention, but stay close for the first Gold Medal requirement:

Thick of It: Stay close to Poppy throughout the chase

She’ll make a right on Alta Street and head into the Vinewood Hills, pursued by a single police car. If you are ever in danger of hitting or passing the police car, brake and pull back a little but not too much. Use Franklin’s special ability in emergencies to make sharp corners, or avoid collisions.

She will cut the corner and turn onto North Conker Avenue, passing traffic on this narrow street. Careful when cornering or passing, as the police car will usually slow when faced with oncoming traffic, making it easy to rear end them accidentally.

When Poppy reaches Fenwell Place, the cop car will try to cut the corner and end up flipping across the street. Another cruiser slips smoothly in to take its place.

Be prepared for the right turn onto Vinewood Park Drive, as she will brake hard at the last minute to make the turn, and so will the new police cruiser, setting you up to t-bone one or the other. Either hang back a bit, or if you can, cut the corner tighter to stay on the inside of the turn, following them both around to the street.

She will follow Vinewood Park Drive across the freeway, past the racetrack, then swerve into the Diamond Casino entrance. Be careful that you’re not too close to them while going over the ramp, in case you accidentally collide with them on the way down.

Follow them through the parking lot and through the exit on the other side to York Street, where they’ll make a right on Bridge Street, followed shortly by a left onto Elgin Avenue.

Stay with them on Elgin as Poppy weaves through traffic, but her luck runs out just before she reaches Hawick Avenue and she smashes head on into a tree. Hit the brakes and come to a stop a fair distance away from the police car.

The cop will order Poppy to get out of the car, and will walk up to arrest her. Get out of your car, and bring up the camera app on your phone and zoom in on the scene. You don’t want to be too close to them or the cop will notice you, accuse you of interfering in the arrest, and you’ll fail the mission.

Send Beverly a Photo of Poppy

Watch and wait for the right moment to take a photograph for the other Gold Medal requirement:

DUI Diva: Snap Poppy after she’s been cuffed

She’ll stagger to the curb and sit down. The cop will walk over to her and get her to her feet, bringing her arms around behind her. Wait till she has her hands cuffed and the cop is leading her back to his squad car for the perfect photo.

Once you have the photo, press / to send the photo, then scroll through your contacts until you find and select Beverly’s name to send it. Quickly jump back in your car, and reverse out of there to leave the area. Once you’re far enough away, the mission will automatically end.