Celebrities
Becca Monaghan
Jun 24, 2021
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Gossip columnist Perez Hilton says he “carries deep shame and regret” for how he behaved in the past about Britney Spears.
He told Sky News on Thursday that he takes “full accountability” for the comments he made on his gossip site and said, “I can’t say I was just young and dumb.”
“I know I didn’t express myself as well as I could have. I didn’t lead with empathy and compassion.
“I absolutely apologize and carry deep shame and regret.”
"I did not express myself as well as I could have." @ThePerezHilton tells @KayBurley that he "carries deep shame a… https://t.co/hIJNEafNjM— Sky News (@Sky News) 1624517942
His comments came shortly after Britney Spears’ court hearing to end her father’s 13-year conservatorship.
During the 20-minute recording, the ‘Stronger’ singer revealed how “traumatised” the past years have left her. She alleged that the team acted against her will by refusing to let her remove her IUD contraception so she could have children with her boyfriend, Sam Ashgari.
The 39-year-old said, “I haven’t done anything in the world to deserve this treatment. It’s not OK to force me to do anything I don’t want to do.
All I want is to own my money... and for this to end. And for my boyfriend to be able to f***ing drive me in his car.”
“And honestly... I want to be able to sue my family.”
Twitter users were divided on Perez’s apology. Morgan Jerkins, Senior Culture Editor for The Undefeated criticised the 43-year-old’s past approach to reporting, by saying he profited off celebrity’s trauma and mental health battles. She said:
“One of the main reasons why Perez Hilton was as relevant as he was in the mid-aughts was because he profited off of many female starlets’ trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles.
He wasn’t some great interviewer. He wasn’t offering astute culture criticism. He was a bully”
One of the main reasons why Perez Hilton was as relevant as he was in the mid-aughts was because he profited off of… https://t.co/HlCLyik6gP— Morgan Jerkins (@Morgan Jerkins) 1624490824
Another wrote, “not Perez Hilton acting like a performative activist during the #FreeBritney movement after mocking and bashing her in the media”
not perez hilton acting like a performative activist during the #FreeBritney movement after mocking and bashing her… https://t.co/kq0ouu64CE— kariema dashaena (@kariema dashaena ) 1624491705
@ThePerezHilton Perez, you were horrible to her... you owe her an infinite amount of apologizes for contributing… https://t.co/iuM0iXfdeF— Brandon Hilton (@Brandon Hilton) 1624498780
Others commended Perez for his accountability. One tweet read: “At least your being a man and apologizing for your words not a lot of boys out there will admit to their mistakes”
@ThePerezHilton Atleast your being a man and apologizing for your words not a lot of boys out there will admits to there mistake— Joanna Marie (@Joanna Marie) 1624500028
While another thanked the gossip columnist for finally apologising.
@ThePerezHilton Thank you for apologizing. No more badmouthing Queen Britney Jean,please. Fresh start.— #AsANeedle (@#AsANeedle) 1624498404
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