RANT: Has Perez Hilton gone too far?

Yes, I confess… like many other bored Americans with way too much free time on my hands, I am guilty of checking out the Perez Hilton blog, to see “What’s Up” with celebrities I (mostly) don’t even care that much about. It’s sometimes good for a giggle if I’m drunk or half-asleep, and sometimes he posts funny video clips (I think the ones I post are funnier, though ).

Anyway, I was UP early this morning and noticed P.H. had updated his little blog with one of his famous IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED… posts. These don’t usually offend; they’re more like those mystery grab bags dime stores used to sell, where you pay your dime and get a secret prize inside. And let’s just say you usually get what you pay for.

So this morning’s “Likely to Offend” offering was a Youtube video, in which a perky young teenish gal ensconced in the comfortable confines of her “Hello Kitty” decorated bedroom belts out a rendition of a Zac Efron tune from “High School Musical,” something an old hag like me isn’t at all familiar with. She wasn’t the greatest singer (which of us, in the confines of our “Hello Kitty” rooms, are?) and I just knew P.H. was setting this poor unsuspecting kid up to be slaughtered. I browsed through the comments on the video and noticed many people (like me) were posting upbeat/encouraging comments, to offset the flood of mean hateful shit that was likely to land on this poor kid’s lap. Perez’s own comment to her: “I’m gonna make you a star, baby!!!!” Yikes!

So here it is 3pm and he’s already posted links to three of her videos (the first one has already racked up nearly a quarter of a million hits), and she probably is still stuck in school for the day, not even realizing how her life has been changing as she went about her daily routine.

I realize P.H. can be a dick at times, and that’s part of his popularity… but his target is normally celebrities who are equipped to deal with the after effects of a stunt like this. Hell, even adults who post goofy videos on Youtube halfway ask to get made fun of, but what pleasure does it bring to drag an unsuspecting teen girl into the arena and then unleash the cruel masses and their bullshit on her? Like this, for example:

“Are you retarded? You sound like a kid with down syndrome. Do you think anyone cares about your stupid pathetic life with your dumb preteen friends? You have nothing on Britney. You’re just an ignorant, ugly, fat, bitch with no sense of style. You should probably just kill yourself, because you do not benefit society in any way.”

Shame on you Perez! (And TRIPLE shame on the thoughtless person I quoted above!!) I just hope poor Tina is able to deal with the “gift” you’ve bestowed upon her. Stick with the folks who want to be famous, and don’t go destroying the lives of helpless little girls who love Zac Efron. I’m sure Jesus is ashamed of you, Perez… and I’ll be praying my ass off for you, that you change your evil ways, man!

Jesus don’t play around!

UPDATE - 3 Days Later: Well, Miss Tina became aware of her new notoriety, and actually took it pretty well for a not-so-worldly kid who’d received hundreds of derogatory/cruel comments about her looks, talent (or lack thereof) and level of smarts. Many of the viewers P.H. sent to watch her videos were not shy about telling her that her time would be better spent killing herself.

Tina responded with this video in which she asked (well, “ordered”) her detractors to stop posting mean comments and claimed that anyone who made fun of her videos “is gay,” can go “you know where,” or “can just kill yourself.” P.H. promptly reported that Tina is “homophobic,”apparently blind to the fact that this kid is merely aping the comments left by Hilton’s own blog visitors.

At any rate, a new low for Perez Hilton all around, especially in light of this news story about the effects of online behavior (by adults) toward kids who are too young to emotionally handle such things… Tina, however, continues to make videos… despite the negative backlash toward her performances.