In an interview with The Sunday Times last week, notorious gossip blogger Perez Hilton said he doesn’t expect to ever be forgiven for his past behavior.
“I am irredeemable in the eyes of most,” the 43-year-old said. “No matter how much I change, grow, evolve, apologize, they refuse to see me for who I am today.”
Hilton made a name for himself in the mid-2000s in large part by targeting closeted celebrities and outing them to the world, often giving them degrading nicknames and sometimes going so far as to publish their nudes or screenshots from their private dating profiles.
He has since apologized for this behavior and says he no longer engages in these vile practices, but, he’s right, a lot of people still find what he did “irredeemable” and no amount of apologizing will ever undo the pain he inflicted.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Scroll down for just some of the LGBTQ celebrities Hilton has targeted over the years. Fortunately, because Karma is only a bitch to those who truly deserve it, many of these people are thriving today…
Lance Bass
The *NSYNC crooner was forced to make a public statement about his sexuality in 2006 after Hilton nicknamed him “Princess Frosty Locks” and wouldn’t stop posting cruel articles about him. In 2007, Bass told Attitude, “Two years before I came out I was really bullied on the internet by bloggers. That’s when Perez Hilton just started and was just really malicious against me.” The singer finally came out in an exclusive interview with People “because of the bloggers like him hounding me.”
Wentworth Miller and Luke McFarlane
In 2007, Hilton outed the Prison Break star by claiming he was secretly dating up-and-coming actor Luke McFarlane. Hilton also cited a source that claimed, as a result of his new gay lover, Miller had become “very difficult to work with” then he criticized the two for looking like “they could be brothers” and calling them “narcissists.” McFarlane came out publicly a year later after landing a role on the hit show Brothers & Sisters. Miller came out publicly in 2013 in a letter posted to GLAAD’s website. That same year, he gave a speech at an HRC dinner where he talked about his struggles with mental illness and attempting suicide because of his sexuality.
Anderson Cooper, Kevin Spacey, and Jodie Foster
Speaking to Big Think in 2010, Hilton questioned why the beloved CNN anchor still hadn’t come out publicly. “He’s choosing to remain in the closet even though everybody knows he’s gay,” he said. Then, without any hint of irony, he added, “And that’s okay because it’s his story to tell if and when he’s ready.” In the same interview, Hilton also criticized Kevin Spacey and Jodie Foster for being closeted, saying, “Visibility is key. The more straight people see that there are gay folks out there, the easier it is for us to achieve change, the easier it will be for us to get marriage equality, the harder it is for people to hate.”
Neil Patrick Harris
Last June, the actor opened up about that time he, too, fell victim to a vicious outing campaign led by Hilton in 2006. “[He] started posting about me and asking people to come forward with truths or stories,” Harris recalled. “Then it became apparent that I needed to make some sort of decisive respectable move.” The actor added that his biggest concern was coming out in a way that was kind to his husband. “It wasn’t simple for me,” he said, “but I tried to represent myself well.”
Lindsay Lohan
During her well-documented struggles with substance abuse in 2008 and 2009, Hilton frequently wrote about the Mean Girls actress’ rumored relationship with Samantha Ronson, who he referred to as “DJ SaMANtha Ronson.” Lohan has never spoken much about the relationship, as if her right, though a few years ago she did tell Howard Stern, “We were friends more than anything. We were always more like best friends as well.”
Clay Aiken
In 2004, Hilton (still known as Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.) outed the American Idol contestant on his blog, claiming, “Clay may be a bottom and only 26, but he’s one helluva sugar daddy.” In 2007, he went after the singer again, this time publishing screenshots, photos, and webcam stills from his Manhunt profile. The next year, Aiken came out publicly after Kelly Ripa alluded to a rumor (peddled by Hilton) that he was into fisting on an episode of Live With Regis and Kelly.
Dustin Lance Black
While we’re on the subject of Hilton publishing people’s private photos, in 2009 he published several pictures of the Oscar winner in bed with another man. If that wasn’t bad enough, Hilton shamed him for having bareback sex. In 2014, Black spoke about the incident at a benefit for the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, saying, “I did nothing wrong and I refuse to be shamed for this any longer. … I have never lied about my sexuality. If you invade my privacy, this is what you will find. I have sex. It brings me joy, fosters intimacy, and helps love grow.”
Matt Dallas and Jonathan Bennett
The ABC Family actor came out publicly in 2013, five years after Hilton published a “new couple alert” outing him and his then-boyfriend, Jonathan Bennett. Dallas made the announcement on Twitter when he said he was engaged to musician Blue Hamilton, telling followers: “Starting the year off with a new fiancé @bluehamilton. A great way to kick off 2013.” As for Bennett, he was dogged by gay rumors for years until 2018 when he finally came out publicly, saying he was proud to be LGBTQ but “If I was straight, I wouldn’t talk about my relationship. So why should I talk about it because I’m gay?”
Queen Latifah
In 2013, Hilton said he didn’t out people anymore then proceeded to criticize the actress/singer/rapper/producer for still being in the closet. The judgmental remarks came years after he posted photos of her and a “lady friend” allegedly going “for a romantic stroll around the neighborhood in West Hollywood” in 2007. While receiving the BET Lifetime Achievement Award this past June, Latifah mentioned her longtime partner, Eboni Nichols, and their son, Rebel. She ended her speech by wishing viewers a “Happy Pride!”
MickeyMoose
He’s lucky none of these people had him whacked. STFU bitch. You deserve a lifetime of retribution.
Larry McD
Came to say this. Leaving almost satisfied ’cause I might have gone for more violence. Probably better that I didn’t.
gjg64
You want “redemption” and “forgiveness “ for your sins? Do something actually useful to the community instead of bitching that you aren’t “forgiven”. An apology isn’t nearly enough.
esrosejr
What a …… well. Payback is a bitch. One look at the photo of this scab up top is enough. I was told when I first came out that the biggest problem I would have would be with queens that had not. I suppose I should just be satisfied that all these men and women went on to triumph. And he is a fart faced asshole.
Grrrowler
In my mind, the things he’s done are irredeemable. He publicized peoples’ private lives, and potentially put their careers and themselves in danger, just to get attention for himself . Obviously, the money that went along with that attention was part of it.
As it turns out, his complaining about not being forgiven is simply more of an attempt for attention, so I don’t see that he’s changed at all. He may have stopped outing people because it’s no longer popular but he still is who he is. I’ll start believing he’s changed when I see stories about all the great volunteer work he’s doing to actually help the community.
Ken A.
People encouraged him, he became friends with celebrities, became guest commentator on shows. And people told him to stop doing this but he ignored them. But I remember having conversations with people during that time. Many gays actually said that celebrities had no right to stay in the closet, they had a responsibility to the community. That was a sick time in our history.
Mr. Stadnick
Why do the editors publish such trash? They are stooping as low as Perez Hilton but cloaking it as a story about him so they can repeat all of his nastiness. You really should be ashamed of yourselves for propagating and peddling the same old rubbish under the guise of some sort of public metaphoric stoning of Perez Hilton.
BoylesqueBubble
Because it’s Queerty. Do you really expect anything great from the editors here?
orrine
Lol, no. They are not outing anyone, and they post this article in a response to Hilton’s recent words about being irredeemable to remind people what he did. So no, they are not posting the same old trash, they would do it if they reposted rumors about sexuality when actors haven’t come out.
It seems some people have difficulty grasping context
Thad
I kinda liked him. I’ve reconsidered.
But I did have a good time at his party at Atlantic City’s Showboat years ago.
MISTERJETT
since Latifah came out, i’ve heard so many people say “it’s about time!!”. to those people i ask “what was in it for you?”.
Hillers
Having an out, black, famous role model. Visibility makes a difference and provides courage to those still inching their way out of the closet.
Terrycloth
He didn’t say he was sorry or did he apologize.thatbdosent mean he is going to stop maybe just be a little nicer outing someone. Is that it ??
WSnyder
Redemption and being forgiven depends upon the weight of the pain that was caused. Some things can never be forgiven. Redemption is not something that is given or earned, it is Path you choose to take. Redemption is not about waiting out the clock or hoping for memories to fade. It is a Process you must realize from the very beginning that you never will fully achieve, but you pour yourself into it anyway. To atone for transgressions against others, you do it because it’s the right thing to do, not because you expect to get a prize at the end. Sometimes you may be forgiven by others but that’s for their own satisfaction, not yours. You would still carry the weight of that guilt and you accept it and carry it in order to help others.
Perez is still a POS because anything he’s done was for himself and in no way was his motivation based upon helping the people he hurt.
And that is why he’ll never be redeemed.
Hank31
I have a strange, mixed reaction to this piece. On the one hand, Hilton is a sleazy, loathsome guy for sure. None of these celebs was publicly homophobic or supported anti-gay legislation, so he can’t justify the outings on the grounds of hypocrisy. And the way he would out these people was so completely disrespectful in tone and substance.
OTOH, there’s no question that LGB people benefited from these actors’ coming out. Hilton was right that visibility does matter in changing minds and cultural norms. So out of his sleazy antics, some good resulted. Also, I feel much less sympathy for someone like Jodie Foster, who remained silent on gay rights for *decades*, long after she was very successful and never had to worry about her status or wealth, as contrasted with a newcomer like Wentworth Miller.
Doug
Didn’t he also have a major falling out with Gaga?
Michael1500
Words fail because there are no words to adequately describe the pitiful miscreant known as Perez Hilton. Actually just a picture—-ANY picture of the egg-sucking cur—-would say more than words. I say this with all conviction that it is a fact: Karma will catch up BIG TIME with this sad excuse for humanity, and will deal decisively with IT.
winemaker
If perez hilton hasn’t been sued, I’m surprised as a law suit tends to shut them up. Adults especially well known ones who post nude or suggestive photos online are fools with a capital ‘F’. That being said someone who gets pleasure destroying peoples lives and reputations is sick, period. Yes there are some things that can’t be forgiven as the damage is done and usually is recurring for a long time to come. BTW: why is this has been suddenly getting attention after having been irrelevant ( and for the most part is still irrelevant) for years? Kind of like attention whores the kardashians, madonnna and a whole lot of other so called celebrities so hungry for attention. Most people don’t really give a rats ass about these overpaid bags of wind and aren’t interested in hearing about their continuing drama.
Cam
Truth is a defense to being sued. So even if he said things in a mean way, if he says for example “Lance Bass is gay and dating person A”….. Lance can’t sue if it’s true. Also a few years ago a court found against a straight guy who sued because a site said he was gay and the court said that calling somebody gay wasn’t slanderous.
So unless Hilton lied and said something provably false there was nothing to sue over, and the discovery phase of the trial would probably have exposed even more stuff.
JessM
FACT: Perez hasn’t changed at all. When he was a contestant on Australia’s I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2020, he would whisper vicious comments in other cast-mates ears while they were sleeping – “Watch your back,” “You’re going down,” “Everybody hates you.” Yes, it was a tv show. However, he then turned around a played the victim, crying how everyone was against him. He didn’t last long and was quickly voted off, but not before damaging the brand and sinking ratings. Please do us all a favor and don’t come back to Australia, mate.
Openminded
I really like Jonathan Bennett’s comment about how he wouldn’t publicly discuss his sexuality if he were hetero, so why is he obligated to discuss his homosexuality?
Den
He said he would not talk about his relationship, not that he would not talk about his sexuality. Big difference. Dolly Parton (as a well known example) does not talk about her relationship and her husband of many years is totally out of the public eye. But she makes no bones about her sexuality or her position as supporter of her LGBT fans.
One can come out of the closet (which has societal benefit) while still keeping one’s private affairs private.
Cam
Of course the right wing troll account tries to put in a subtle flag for the closet.
The fact is, now that Bennet is out he DOES discuss his relationship openly, including an engagement announcement, travel photos etc. And if he was straight media would have posted pictures of him with a girlfriend or wife on the red carpet.
Prax07
My opinion is these celebrities were, well, celebrities. Public figures. When you’re a fame-whore all is fair, including if you’re a closeted hypocrite. Don’t want to be”outed”, get a different career or have the fortitude to be out. He’s not hated in my book
Den
Excuse me child? These people are actors or singers or journalists or involved in other creative endeavors. Are you such a dullard that all you can see them as is “fame whores”?” And none of them were “hypocrites” in any way, like so many of the closeted right wingers are (who I suspect you support). What the hell is wrong with you? the only fame whore in the article is Hilton!
Fname Optional Lname
He hasn’t changed one bit! After he could not longer attack celebrities he turned the focus on his own children. This grown man video taped a “prank” on his children where he told them they were to receive wonderful gifts and got them all hyped up only to have them opening “gifts” that would help them clean the house like a household dust pan and broom – (don’t recall the exact items) but I do remember watching him laugh as both of his children broke in to tears after feeling the betrayal daddy bestowed upon them. His ego is way out of control and he will never have the ability to feel for others. He knew he would only get backlash for blogging about celebrity gossip so he turned the tables on his own children. He needs help.
Cam
The one I don’t mind was Anderson Cooper. He was avoiding stories that had an LGBTQ theme before he came out which was effecting the “News” he reported.
Some good came out of the bad, I have a feeling the celebrities are living happier more open, relaxed lives now and I am happy for them. Hilton was pretty vicious when he was on top, but the old saying “Living well/happy is the best revenge” seems to apply here.
cuteguy
Let’s face it, one of the main reasons why he hasn’t been forgiven is bc he’s extremely unattractive. We live in a shallow society. But if he truly wanted redemption he would do more philanthropy instead of whining
mikeincleveland
As it is with insane Evangelical preachers and extreme politicians, the ones that are the most to blame for the rise and success of Perez Hilton were the millions of fans that flocked to his site hour after hour and relished his bitchy, often-hypocritical, childish “reporting” and kept the dough rolling in for he and his sister for years.
I remember the swanky SXSW parties he’d throw in Austin every March and all of the music and film industry people angling to get in to be a part of the in-crowd.
The fans are to blame just as the faithful and the voters are for their decisions.
Essie
True. But “fans” get bored if you can’t give them the gossip they think is important and Perez can’t do that anymore. And celebrites are always at parties that people like him throw because they would be in his column the next day, with photos. Now he is a nobody, not even z-list, and he is trying hard to get someone to listen to him. So far, no one in the legitimate press is bothering to pick up on his whiny little interviews. (I don’t consider Queerty to be “legitimate” even though I love you girl!!)
I will say that it’s wonderful to see that all those celebrities this scum outed are doing well and even thriving and seem happy and content with their lives. That’s something Perez should think about.
inbama
Hilton deserves to spend eternity living on a desert island with Milo Yiannopoulos, Peter Theil and no lube.
scrough
I pay absolutely no mind to anything he says. He is just one of an entire generation of bloggers/vloggers who’s only claim to fame is that they seek it through infamy since they have no other redeeming qualities or talent. Tearing others down to build oneself up is probably never going to be a sustainable model for long term relevance. I hope other wannabe influencers are taking note.
Hillers
It’s encouraging that he’s turned a new leaf and is at least apologizing for his past, but he’s right, he’ll never be redeemed in the eyes of many. Certainly not by any of my fellow Queerty readers…
chappy51
I wonder if Perez was drunk when that pic was taken. Karma will get you big time, for outing people. Who said it was yor job to do that? You should be ashamed!
pumpkinpielifeboi
smh how dare you spell Luke Macfarlane incorrectly he deserves better than this ?