Italy’s PM Silvio Berlusconi Responds to Stripper Controversy: ‘Better To Like Beautiful Girls Than To Be Gay’

Italy’s prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has already battled allegations tying him to the mob, accusing him of unfairly wielding too much control of the media with his ownership stakes, and denouncing Islamic cultures. Now he’s being assailed for allegedly trying to cover up his pressuring Italian police to release the granddaughter of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who appeared at one of his infamous parties at his mansion. But it’s not big deal, says the PM, because having a fondness for beautiful girls is better than being a fag.

Karima Keyek, the now 18-year-old stripper (who goes by Ruby and is also known as Karima El Mahroug) accused of stealing 3,000 euros, was released from jail after a call from Berlusconi’s office — and now critics are calling for his resignation. His response?

“As always, I work without interruption and if occasionally I happen to look a beautiful girl in the face, it’s better to like beautiful girls than to be gay,” he told reporters. So that should totally put him in the clear, ya?