Paris Hilton has come under fire after an audio recording of her making ‘homophobic and derogatory’ statements about gay men was released by the media outlet Radar Online.
The audio, recorded by a New York City cab driver without Hilton’s knowledge, has the hotel heiresses stating gay men are ‘disgusting’ and that she would be scared to be a gay man. After her companion shows her the cell phone application Grindr, which allows gay men to find nearby gay men interested in meeting one another (Use your imagination as to what purpose it is used for), Hilton is heard saying, “Gay guys are the horniest people in the world. They’re disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS.”
Hilton’s representatives responded to Radar Online by explaining that the reality TV star was expressing her belief that it is dangerous for anyone to have unprotected sex. They added “her comments were in reference to those people promoting themselves on the site.” Although I have a hard time picturing Hilton discussing the merits of condoms and the importance of regular STD testing, I do believe in giving her the benefit of the doubt, and I will assume she was referring only to gay men with AIDS having unprotected sex.
Even if I’m wrong and Hilton really is a homophobe, I think the outpouring of anger against Hilton is misplaced. Why on earth would anyone care about what Hilton thinks? Of course her comments are inappropriate and offensive, but still… it’s Paris Hilton. Do we really care what she thinks? Plus, are we really surprised? This is the girl who was catapulted to the spotlight for a sex tape and asking what a Wal-Mart was (“Do they sell, like, wall stuff?”). She then proceeded to bombard the world with her tirades that included multiple reality TV shows, time in prison, a failed music career, various unflattering mug shots and the phrases “that’s hot” and “that’s huge.” Not exactly an intellectual leader or barometer of social consciousness.
The people we should be concerned about are those in power, those who influence others and those who shape opinions – those like US Senator Michelle Bachmann, who was quoted as saying that a gay lifestyle is ‘personal bondage, personal despair and personal enslavement’ or the organization REAL (Realistic, active, equal, for life) Women of Canada, which on its website describes the ‘highly sexualized gay agenda’ they believe is happening in this country. The organization was chosen by the Harper government this past March to help nominate individuals for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal. These are the people and organizations to be angry about. Hilton? Not so much.