Perez Hilton on O'Day, Angel, Madison and loving Vegas
October 23, 2009 | 12:03
pm
I had never met or spoken to Perez Hilton before last night at the VIP check-in at Venetian, where the mere mention that I was waiting for him had security leave me alone despite my being in the VIP lounge as a non-hotel guest. That was very unusual, and I am reasonably sure this was because of Hilton’s fame.
And, to be honest, I was not sure what to expect from the controversial blogger and Twitter superstar. I know people who could not wait to read what he had to say to me, and those who were furious that I would give him a venue to say it. Of course, his readers are plentiful without me, but I wanted to talk to a person, not a celebrity, and that is what I got from him. Hilton took questions seriously, gave what seemed to me carefully thought out answers and was never obnoxious or trying to show off his wit (though as you can see it was not absent). Not to say that he was modest. When I thanked him for interviewing with me, his “You’re welcome” was perfectly polite yet was also delivered with a casual noblesse oblige.
In the few years he has been coming here (his first Vegas trip was November 2005), he has become a Vegas celebrity of the top degree. How important became clear when I sent a tweet saying I was planning to interview him, and public relations people from many of the major resorts, shops, restaurants and shows in town reached out to me for any information I might have on where Hilton was going, staying and what he was doing here. Then came the requests: Was there anyway I could get him to go to their clients' shows, restaurants or shops? It was yet another surprise in my continuing education about the star power of Perez Hilton.
Of course, Hilton’s most famous trip to Vegas happened earlier this year when he became the unwitting star of Criss Angel’s Believe and the Miss USA contest on consecutive nights. This trip was definitely a lower key affair, with Hilton taking his mom to see Gloria Estefan for her birthday. The concert was part of the AARP convention, not exactly Hilton’s usual demo.
For about 30 minutes, we talked Vegas, celebrities we both cover and his
view of his work.
Richard Abowitz: How do you see your relationship to Las Vegas?
Perez Hilton: I love Las Vegas. I always loved Vegas. But what I do has changed over the years because I have come to Vegas so much. One of my favorite things to do in Vegas was to go see shows. But I have seen all the shows here. I have been to every Cirque show. But it is exciting that there seems to be new people like Garth Brooks heading to the Strip. The Strip needs that. Tonight I am going to see Gloria Estefan and I think she would be amazing in Vegas. Here is why. I like to call it as I see it. I love Bette Midler, but her show is not that great. She does not have the catalog of hits Cher does. Cher does an amazing show; Bette is a great entertainer, but the show is lacking. When I saw Bette Midler there were so many open seats and it was a holiday weekend, and with Cher it was like sold out.
Richard Abowitz: How do you see your relationship to Las Vegas?
Perez Hilton: I love Las Vegas. I always loved Vegas. But what I do has changed over the years because I have come to Vegas so much. One of my favorite things to do in Vegas was to go see shows. But I have seen all the shows here. I have been to every Cirque show. But it is exciting that there seems to be new people like Garth Brooks heading to the Strip. The Strip needs that. Tonight I am going to see Gloria Estefan and I think she would be amazing in Vegas. Here is why. I like to call it as I see it. I love Bette Midler, but her show is not that great. She does not have the catalog of hits Cher does. Cher does an amazing show; Bette is a great entertainer, but the show is lacking. When I saw Bette Midler there were so many open seats and it was a holiday weekend, and with Cher it was like sold out.
To make a long story short, Gloria Estefan would be great in Vegas because
she has so many hits, she is people-friendly and can draw a large audience. Or,
Dolly Parton. I would love to see Dolly Parton in Vegas.
Abowitz: Anyone else?
Hilton: I think Vegas would be a good option for Janet Jackson. I don’t know if she knows that because she thinks she still has a career. She just released a single that did not do very well at all. But there is renewed interest in her.
Abowitz: People have speculated about how successful the Garth Brooks show will do at Wynn. What are your thoughts?
Hilton: I don’t want to generalize, but it is a rough economy and I don’t know if his fans will want to spend that much on a ticket. I know Beyonce’s fans would pay to see her in an intimate setting. He and Beyonce have a different audience.
Abowitz: So, while waiting for the next wave of stars to headline, do you think Vegas risks losing some of its luster and appeal?
Hilton: No. I still love Vegas. Right now I love to eat. There is great food in Vegas. I don’t stick to my diet when I am here. But I like seeing what is new. I go to new clubs. I never gamble. But I always need to see what is new in Vegas.
Abowitz: OK, to change topics: So, what do you really think about Aubrey O’Day?
Hilton: I think she is very unhappy because she wants to be something she is not or she ended up being something she never intended to be. Going into show business she probably thought she was going to be Lady Gaga or Madonna or Angelina Jolie and she ended up being Aubrey O’Day. In her mind that is probably a big bummer, because she is not stupid, she is just not smart. So, she is probably fully aware how she is perceived and that has to be a bummer. But I actually like Aubrey O’Day. That is the thing, I don’t dislike her. I like making fun of her. I am not out to sabotage her career. I think I am helping her.
Abowitz: How do you respond to her telling me her feelings are hurt by some (or, all) of what you write about her?
Hilton: I think in the back of my mind---and, maybe I am just using this to justify my actions, but I actually believe it—that if I stopped talking about her completely, that would bother her more.
Abowitz: On your last Vegas trip, did you expect Criss Angel to call you out from the stage over the tweet you sent about the show being awful?
Hilton: No, but I loved it. I should tweet now that I am going to see his show tonight!
Abowitz: And what are your thoughts on the now-Criss-Angel-free Holly Madison?
Hilton: I’ve been really surprised by her over the past year. I think Holly Madison has a really great sense of humor and a great attitude about herself. She is probably really happy being Holly Madison.
Abowitz: What makes a celebrity interesting to you?
Hilton: Talent makes a celebrity interesting.
Abowitz: So, to you is Criss Angel talented?
Hilton: No.
Abowitz: So, what is there besides talent?
Hilton: To me, musicians are interesting, but they may not be interesting to write about though I do a lot of the time anyway. I am interested in what my readers are reacting to. Right now anything “Twilight” or “True Blood” related. Really anything with fangs. Vegas should get a show with vampires [Hilton is probably unaware there is one: “Bite,” the vampire-themed topless show at Stratosphere].
Abowitz: So, do your readers then respond to Criss Angel?
Hilton: No. I never watched his show, because I never watch TV. I went to see a Cirque show. I was so surprised by his accent, I thought, "Shut up and don't talk. You are so much better when you don’t speak." And I was surprised by the lack of magic. It was more animal training. That is not magic. Wow, birds flying. That is not magic. That is animal tricks. But I haven't written about Criss Angel in forever. As a celebrity, he needs to date another celebrity to get his name back in the headlines. I don't even know if that show is still on TV. But if he wants to be relevant, he has to do something. He is not doing much.
Abowitz: And you see the road to relevance for him as dating someone famous as opposed to doing something impressive in his work?
Hilton: Do it where?
Abowitz: There have been a lot of questions raised about your ethics as a journalist. How do you see yourself?
Hilton: First and foremost, I am an entertainer. I am not the New York Times. I am Perez Hilton. It has my name on the top of the website and so people are going to read my opinions and my filter on the world of celebrities.
Abowitz: Is it important to you to be honest to your readers?
Hilton: Absolutely. I would never make up or embellish a story. That is something print magazines do repeatedly. That is not to say I have not been wrong in the past. I have. But if I am reporting exclusively, I will never make anything up. And if I am talking about something someone else is reporting and I don't believe it, I will put a question mark or something to let my readers know that people are saying that but I don't think it is true. I value my readers. The ones who come to my website every day and who know what I am about, those are the ones who matter to me. They get me.
Hilton: I think Vegas would be a good option for Janet Jackson. I don’t know if she knows that because she thinks she still has a career. She just released a single that did not do very well at all. But there is renewed interest in her.
Abowitz: People have speculated about how successful the Garth Brooks show will do at Wynn. What are your thoughts?
Hilton: I don’t want to generalize, but it is a rough economy and I don’t know if his fans will want to spend that much on a ticket. I know Beyonce’s fans would pay to see her in an intimate setting. He and Beyonce have a different audience.
Abowitz: So, while waiting for the next wave of stars to headline, do you think Vegas risks losing some of its luster and appeal?
Hilton: No. I still love Vegas. Right now I love to eat. There is great food in Vegas. I don’t stick to my diet when I am here. But I like seeing what is new. I go to new clubs. I never gamble. But I always need to see what is new in Vegas.
Abowitz: OK, to change topics: So, what do you really think about Aubrey O’Day?
Hilton: I think she is very unhappy because she wants to be something she is not or she ended up being something she never intended to be. Going into show business she probably thought she was going to be Lady Gaga or Madonna or Angelina Jolie and she ended up being Aubrey O’Day. In her mind that is probably a big bummer, because she is not stupid, she is just not smart. So, she is probably fully aware how she is perceived and that has to be a bummer. But I actually like Aubrey O’Day. That is the thing, I don’t dislike her. I like making fun of her. I am not out to sabotage her career. I think I am helping her.
Abowitz: How do you respond to her telling me her feelings are hurt by some (or, all) of what you write about her?
Hilton: I think in the back of my mind---and, maybe I am just using this to justify my actions, but I actually believe it—that if I stopped talking about her completely, that would bother her more.
Abowitz: On your last Vegas trip, did you expect Criss Angel to call you out from the stage over the tweet you sent about the show being awful?
Hilton: No, but I loved it. I should tweet now that I am going to see his show tonight!
Abowitz: And what are your thoughts on the now-Criss-Angel-free Holly Madison?
Hilton: I’ve been really surprised by her over the past year. I think Holly Madison has a really great sense of humor and a great attitude about herself. She is probably really happy being Holly Madison.
Abowitz: What makes a celebrity interesting to you?
Hilton: Talent makes a celebrity interesting.
Abowitz: So, to you is Criss Angel talented?
Hilton: No.
Abowitz: So, what is there besides talent?
Hilton: To me, musicians are interesting, but they may not be interesting to write about though I do a lot of the time anyway. I am interested in what my readers are reacting to. Right now anything “Twilight” or “True Blood” related. Really anything with fangs. Vegas should get a show with vampires [Hilton is probably unaware there is one: “Bite,” the vampire-themed topless show at Stratosphere].
Abowitz: So, do your readers then respond to Criss Angel?
Hilton: No. I never watched his show, because I never watch TV. I went to see a Cirque show. I was so surprised by his accent, I thought, "Shut up and don't talk. You are so much better when you don’t speak." And I was surprised by the lack of magic. It was more animal training. That is not magic. Wow, birds flying. That is not magic. That is animal tricks. But I haven't written about Criss Angel in forever. As a celebrity, he needs to date another celebrity to get his name back in the headlines. I don't even know if that show is still on TV. But if he wants to be relevant, he has to do something. He is not doing much.
Abowitz: And you see the road to relevance for him as dating someone famous as opposed to doing something impressive in his work?
Hilton: Do it where?
Abowitz: There have been a lot of questions raised about your ethics as a journalist. How do you see yourself?
Hilton: First and foremost, I am an entertainer. I am not the New York Times. I am Perez Hilton. It has my name on the top of the website and so people are going to read my opinions and my filter on the world of celebrities.
Abowitz: Is it important to you to be honest to your readers?
Hilton: Absolutely. I would never make up or embellish a story. That is something print magazines do repeatedly. That is not to say I have not been wrong in the past. I have. But if I am reporting exclusively, I will never make anything up. And if I am talking about something someone else is reporting and I don't believe it, I will put a question mark or something to let my readers know that people are saying that but I don't think it is true. I value my readers. The ones who come to my website every day and who know what I am about, those are the ones who matter to me. They get me.
Abowitz: Miss America is happening in Vegas again and there has been some controversy over Rush Limbaugh being chosen as a judge. As a controversial Miss USA judge, how do you feel about that choice?
Hilton: I think that is great. I hope he asks a question about me! I knew going into Miss USA I was asked to be there because I am controversial and because I am qualified. I look at women in the spotlight every day. I know how a girl can successfully navigate that world.
Abowitz: To be clear, your question on gay marriage was not a rogue behavior. But that question was approved by the Miss USA contest before you asked it?
Hilton: There was a meeting that morning with producers and pageant officials and everyone signed off on it. Listen, I am a professional. I am a muckraker and lot of things. But I am also a professional. I can separate who Perez is and what he does on his website from what Perez is asked to do in certain professional situations.
Abowitz: This actually touches on Aubrey O’Day. Her accusation is that you are nice to her in person, but…
Hilton: I am, because I like her. I don't hate her. Why would I not be nice to her, if I like her? I also like to make fun of her. She can't reconcile that, but I can.
Photo: Michael Tucker Photography/Courtesy Perez Hilton
I use to like Gloria Estefan back in the mid 80's. It's sad to see an old lady like her kiss up to Mario to just to try and remain relevant to younger people.
Posted by: Punky | October 23, 2009 at 12:36 PM
nice, perez is the best
Posted by: rachel | October 23, 2009 at 12:49 PM
I love Perez Hilton and I really enjoyed reading this interview. I think that he is a very smart business minded person who also loves his job very much. He inspires me everyday to find a career or life path that I love and to run with it!!! I want to wake up everyday and be excited for whats ahead :) and I really feel like he is such a good example of that.
Posted by: amber taylor | October 23, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I really appreciated his honesty in this interview. Despite myself I chuckled when he said "Janet probably thinks she still has a career." That was awful, but probably undeniable ;) Still love her though.
Posted by: Baron | October 23, 2009 at 12:51 PM
So he likes celebrities for talent. That makes sense. Great question. But guess what, I have a curveball of my own for Perez: Perez, do you spend your hard earned money on male prostitutes when in Vegas?
Posted by: StripMallBaller | October 23, 2009 at 12:56 PM
He's so ugly!
Posted by: ilmp | October 23, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Bette M-I-D-L-E-R.
Posted by: Jessica | October 23, 2009 at 01:07 PM
He likes celebrities for talent? Then why does he mirror his name after Paris Hilton, and why does he always defend her. When clearly she has zero talent
Posted by: commiekilla | October 23, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Must be a hugely slow day for reporters.
Perez Hilton is a hated, hateful.
This is what you write about?
Is this some kind of punishment where you work?
Posted by: Tess Guest | October 23, 2009 at 01:14 PM
I think Garth will do well. Perez just isn't as in tune with the Country music genre as most. Garth hasn't been on tour in forever and he has a lot of fans, I included, who can't wait to see him. Also, a lot of older fans who are probably more financially stable.
Other than that good interview. I can believe he is pretty gracious considering guys who are gracious are usually momma's boys and he is. I think the show he puts on his blog is just that a show, but I think his mom did raise him well. Besides what mom wants there kid to grow up and not have an opinion. He has them we don't always agree with them and he can piss you off, but still I think that's a better way to live your life. Otherwise where do you end up in a cubicle doing 9-5? Blah who wants that?
Posted by: WildOrchid1298 | October 23, 2009 at 01:16 PM
4 Aubrey O'day U don't try to help her..Just to grow up thanks to her..Like thanks to everyone you critic..There is no exchange..It's only sabotage and it's do like teenagers...Informations are just stupids..nothing real set on obscenity draw ..It remember me Wayne's World!
Posted by: re | October 23, 2009 at 01:33 PM
Before it could be a manner to do job..Maybe it is not the Best and the most fair...It's the Ingrate's side!!!!!!
Posted by: re | October 23, 2009 at 01:41 PM
Great interview! Perez~ You look good in white... Your baby blues are gorgeous... Congrats on your sucess!
Posted by: Meka | October 23, 2009 at 01:45 PM
Perez Hilton is talent-less, hateful, and trash. He wished he had the talent Aubrey has. It is people like him that give the LGBT community a bad name.
Posted by: Dibs | October 23, 2009 at 01:55 PM
RE: Hilton: There was a meeting that morning with producers and pageant officials and everyone signed off on it. Listen, I am a professional. I am a muckraker and lot of things. But I am also a professional. I can separate who Perez is and what he does on his website from what Perez is asked to do in certain professional situations.
And Perez can also easily separate himself from the character Perez Hilton. That's how he gets away with trashing celebrities on his site who he doesn't have anything against personally. It's possible for Mario to like Aubrey and Perez to just like making fun of her.
I think people should stop taking him so seriously, but I guess that's easy to say seeing as I'm not a public figure with a career he could potentially "ruin." Nonetheless, I'd have to agree that without Perez, Aubrey O'Day would have faded into obscurity by now. Perhaps if Aubrey ignored all the "haters" she could focus her attention on aspiring to live a happy life. Any celeb truly bothered by Perez is going to let negativity ruin them eventually, one way or another.
In response to commiekilla - Perez parodied one of the most recognizable names on the planet. Kind of a no-brainer for an up and coming celebrity blogger. Other celebrity blog sites have done the same, like necolebitchie.com, etc. Perez said he's personally interested in celebrities with talent, but he is writing for his audience who are interested in much more than who he himself finds newsworthy - hence the reason that most of the celebs he covers are known for their drug use rather than their collection of Grammys.
Posted by: maggiekbennett | October 23, 2009 at 02:03 PM
perez, you're gorgeous. coming from someone who is just starting out in reading your words, i love you. watching extra and acess hollywood, they bother me. but i enjoy reading your stories. i can't put my finger on it but its different. i hope to meet you one day. come to the jersey shore and i'll show you a good time :)
great piece btw.
Posted by: jules | October 23, 2009 at 03:26 PM
Funny thing about Mr. Angel dating Ms. Madison is he was way to happy to flaunt her around like she was a prize. I think he thought, as Criss said himself, he got lucky but that isn't the truth. By him flashing this bimbo around was a big turning point of his fans fading away. It was just uncalled for to watch how he acted with a woman who is known for showing off her goods and getting where she is today by having sex with a man old enough to be her Grandfather. It was a turn off to know he was with a woman who everybody knows what she looks like naked.
Althought it is nice to see that he finally woke up and dumped her he is now dating a girl who is young enough to be his daughter. I think Criss would do better as a gay man than a straight man. Now watching him with this 20 year old (which by the way she looks like a 14 - 16 year old year old) is making him look silly.
You might say what does his personal life have to do with it. It does alot. It tells you about the man.
Posted by: Vegas Girl | October 23, 2009 at 03:36 PM
LOVE YOU PEREZ!!!!!!!
Posted by: fabulosity | October 23, 2009 at 05:09 PM
i love perez, ppl seem to forget he just gives his own personal opinion and we wont necessarily agree with everything he says but it's HIS opinion..GO PEREZ! :)
Posted by: chelsey | October 23, 2009 at 05:37 PM
So, Perez just admitted to basically picking on, teasing, and bullying people in his faux persona to make his money, and we all just accept that? That says a lot about our current state as a society. Perez gets millions of HITS every day (hits does not necessarily = viewers) and probably does more damage to every day people in an hour than a celebrity does in a week. Do we not see a problem with his behavior?
This is a guy that has gone on tirade after tirade on "don't bully" campaigns, but he doesn't realize that he's the biggest bully out there. Do we not see how he talks about females regardless of their age and how he puts them down? Do we think it's ok that he only thinks women are beautiful if they're only wearing makeup even if they're a 16 year old girl that looks completely fine? The things he says and does get engraved in the minds of his reader. When he calls someone a skank or a ho just because he wants to, that behavior is relayed to his audience. When he makes comments about people's appearances and how they're "soooooo ugly" according to his very off standards, then his attitude is being transferred to millions of people daily. There are kids that read his site and are bombarded with these comments and false images of beauty he constantly shoves down their throats. I mean... who really wants to dress like and be as off kilter as Lady Gaga's onstage (and off) persona?
I just find it very hypocritical that this is a guy that constantly thinks he's doing the right thing and knows what's best for celebrities that have been in the game all their life when he's had more failures than this "Aubrey O'day" he seems to constantly bash and threaten like he has some type of power over her. It's not ok that he basically follows her around on twitter making veil threats in an effort to get a rise out of her... but she's "obsessed" with him. Right.
Anyway, just like Perez constantly comments that celebrities need to realize their power and do good things, he needs to know his jaded online persona also has a media presence and what he does and says alters someone's point of view. He's being naive if he thinks he can just go around being mean to whomever he likes. He can't possibly expect for every celebrity he rips apart to be able to tell his personas apart, especially when he starts up rivalries at random (the guy hates Jesse Metcalf for no understandable reason at all. You'd think they'd have something in common... Mario does, after all, want to be an actor). I just think Perez needs to take responsibility for his actions and stop with this "it's my online persona" crap. If that were so true, he wouldn't have as many issues as he does. Constantly being sued, threatened, and knocked around must get tiring after awhile, and it really makes me question how he was raised if he thinks his behavior is acceptable in any degree. It also makes me wonder how he would feel if anyone treated his mother like he seems to treat any and all female celebrities he's not completely gaga over... pun intended.
Posted by: Give it a rest, Perez | October 23, 2009 at 10:26 PM
Perez Hilton is a disgusting, no talent example of the worst in our society, with no redeeming values. WHY does he get any attention & publicity? Is this country really that bereft of talent and class? Sad how far we've fallen.
Posted by: clos | October 24, 2009 at 12:51 AM
I <3 Perez big style, he's an inspiration and a hero for doing what you love and being proud of who you are.
Posted by: Anticelebrity | October 24, 2009 at 05:33 AM
I'm dismayed at how you didn't blink an eye and call Perez out for this comment: 'Hilton: I think Vegas would be a good option for Janet Jackson. I don’t know if she knows that because she thinks she still has a career.' Instead of seeing this for the 'catty' remark that it is, you seem to agree with Perez that Vegas is only for those in their declining career years. Is it necessary to perpetuate this aged idea? Aren't times changing or did I miss Beyonce's career demise? Does it then follow that the careers of news critics of vegas shows must also be on the decline? Time for some new blood; NEXT!
Posted by: kat janos | October 24, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Excuse me?
You refer to this nobody as "Vegas celebrity of the top degree." Incorrect.
Perez is not on the A, B or C list in Las Vegas. He is a nobody and giant who cares.
Get it correct. Who are you to be writing about Las Vegas to begin with?
Posted by: Caroll Johnston | October 24, 2009 at 10:21 AM
as always LA Times came a little too late, Perez Hilton USED to be hot a year or more ago, after the Michael Jackson fiasco (he said on his blog MJ was faking his death) and the fight with Black eyed peas and racially slurs against gays (I Know it's gay too) nobody goes to his blog anymore, Perez is a total has been....nice article, what next Britney Spears?
Posted by: CGC | October 24, 2009 at 12:19 PM