In a rare moment of quasi-introspection, notorious gossip blogger Perez Hilton says he doesn’t expect to ever be forgiven for his past behavior.
“I am irredeemable in the eyes of most,” the 43-year-old tells The Sunday Times in a new interview. “No matter how much I change, grow, evolve, apologise, they refuse to see me for who I am today.”
Related: Neil Patrick Harris recalls that time Perez Hilton launched a campaign to out him
Hilton frequently targeted women and closeted gay men in his attacks as he was making a name for himself in the mid-2000s.
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In addition to ridiculing Jennifer Aniston every time she had a break up and mocking Lindsey Lohan’s struggles with sobriety, he taunted then-closeted celebrities like Neil Patrick Harris, Clay Aiken, and Lance Bass so much that they were forced to come out publicly before they were ready to do so.
One of his biggest targets, of course, was Britney Spears, who he wished dead and called an “unfit mother” during her mental health crisis in 2008.
Looking back, the blogger says he viewed at the whole thing sort of like an “online soap opera” where “you have your heroes and you have your villains.” He saw himself as a part of the soap opera, too.
Related: Perez Hilton to those criticizing him for wishing Britney Spears dead: “F*ck you!”
“In some naive way, I viewed what I was doing through that lens,” he explains. “Like, I’m just calling out the celebrities that need to be called out. I would say things like, well, Perez is not who I really am, it’s just a character. So if people don’t like me, it doesn’t bother me.”
Here’s how people on Twitter are responding to Hilton’s latest mea culpa…
"No matter how much I change, grow, evolve, apologise, they refuse to see me for who I am today"
Receipts where you’ve “changed” “grown” “Evolved” “Apologised” ??? #perezhilton @PerezTheHilton #Debate2021 # pic.twitter.com/GzsAcVXcsa
— Romeo Saints (@romeoxsaints) September 19, 2021
I feel like Perez Hilton should just never publicly address anything ever again
— ?archdruid jordan (aurrorra)? (@AurrorraGaming) September 19, 2021
everything I know about perez hilton has been against my own will
— jessica ? (@whorroricon) September 19, 2021
Perez Hilton doesn’t expect to be forgiven and I have to say, good call, because fuck that guy. https://t.co/KupPzxmLed
— Gail Simone (@GailSimone) September 19, 2021
I also remember him posting stolen XXX photos of screenwriter Dustin Lance Black having sex and shaming him for it while LGBTQ activists—including Black—were trying to advance our rights. There’s a lot more than what he did to Britney to forgive.
— ArtistLike (@Artistlike) September 19, 2021
we need financial compensation for being forced to know who perez hilton is
— webkinzgurl2007 (@bettycrockerfan) September 19, 2021
he built his career on misogyny.
even his name 'perez hilton' is testament too that. https://t.co/IZZ4yKPbfl
— Sloane (@SloaneFragment) September 19, 2021
Britney Spears is engaged. Perez Hilton is in the news. Did I wake up to 2007?
— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) September 19, 2021
Idk who needs to hear this but PLEASE stop giving Perez Hilton the time of day. Stop giving him interviews, stop giving him attention. Let him be a shitty part of the early 2000s. Let's move on and evolve, without that type of person latching on.
— Raian Foran (@ForanRaian) September 19, 2021
Perez Hilton was literally harassing kids and young teens on tiktok a year ago I don’t wanna hear it. Get over yourself.
— Riley Hope (@RileyHope12) September 19, 2021
Who the fuck is going to forgive you. You misogynist lying piece of shit that you are Perez Hilton. Stop trying to gaslight us. You’re a horrible being. You pretty much built a career Off of Britney’s most tragic downfall & give her hell for it. #FREEBRITNEY pic.twitter.com/qEdg9DAjsw
— ????? (@phevelous) September 19, 2021
Speaking as someone who lived through that era – the world’s karma on Perez is that nobody under 30 knows who he is or cares.
— 🔁 Replay 🎼 (@CaliCoastReplay) September 19, 2021
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Jack
The difference between the celebrities this sh^t bag taunted and himself is….they all went on to be have happy successful lives (even Britney) and he’s exactly what he’s always been. A self important, insufferable, untalented, bully. But if you think we’re going to let you be a martyr…..think again Queen.
Mark
Who?
Creamsicle
Sorry that he taught us how to treat him after he built a career on being a toxic gossip?
He wasn’t just a bullying who changed he was a bullying who established a brand that revolves around bullying. It’s going to take a lot of work to undo that.
Bry
Your a Horrible example of a Human and What’s Happening to you Now is Your Own Karma!!! Deal with it man child… Why Should anyone forget the Damage you have caused to So MANY people???
Stop being AWEFUL, Start with THAT!!!
CatholicXXX
He’s an icon. Where’s his Emmy?
trojanboy
Yes you are irredeemable now shut up.
AngryGayPope
I agree with every horrible thing said by the previous posters. Not only did he find fame and fortune by being an insecure jerk with no real reason to be famous, he also had kids as a publicity stunt. He IS a publicity stunt with nothing more going for him than good looks, which are fading. I saw him once on the LA Weho gay dating apps. His profile was pathetic. “Yes I’m that guy.” Ever hear of him having a boyfriend? I thought not! 🙂
kevininbuffalo
I always thought he was ugly…or maybe that’s just his soul.
John
He built his whole reputation on being a horrible person. Now he’s pissed that everyone remembers what a horrible person he is.
mlo88
F@*k this piece of trash! Karma is wonderful and this sh*@bag is getting his well deserved comeuppance. Now maybe he will have some idea of how his actions hurt others. Hope he rots in hell
Openminded
Something about his attached pic makes me think of the Grinch. Sorry, Mr. Grinch, I know even you are better than this dirtbag.
winemaker
perez hilton, not only ugly inside but outside as well, BTW: why is this has been who reveled in putting people down and basically had nothing decent to say about people still getting attention? The same can be said about madonna and the kardashians, basically attention whores still trying to be relevant although most thinking folks don’t give a rats to hear updates, move on.
Mr. Stadnick
Well I guess his whining did what he wanted: He got press. He needs mental help and to be ignored for the rest of his days.
Please don’t give him more press.
BoomerMyles
He is irredeemable and should be forever CANCELED!
cuteguy
Perez is as fugly on the outside as he is on the inside.
Bonuscheque
I am not defending him or his actions, but he is not the only guilty party here. The millions of people who logged on to his website numerous times a day are just as guilty – they fueled the fire. What I do not understand is why he doesn’t just sell his website and retire from public life. Even if he has changed, he just alway comes across as straight up unlikeable.
Charlie in Charge
I believe this is what makes him a cautionary tale. People ate up all of his hateful posts and he made all sorts of money because that was the kind of mean-spirited content you could get away with. Tastes changed and now those millions of people have forgotten they used to love that kind of trash.
I think there is a lesson here for anyone who creates an online persona around mercilessly tormenting others.
Cam
But I’m not sure he has changed, he was on Big Brother UK a few years ago and some of the clips were disturbing.
joeboyle49
I DON’T THINK HES CHANGED EITHER HE WAS UNGLY WITH EVERYONE HE OUTED!!
mateo
You made your bed; now sleep in it. If you really, really want to redeem yourself, do the following: 1): Drop the phony name and go by the name your parents gave you. 2.) Drop off the media radar (i.e., more than now, even), and lead a life in which you’re gracious, helpful, and kind to others. 3.) Don’t publicize anything about yourself–ESPECIALLY including the stuff I mentioned in point #2.
HenryHawke
You mean to tell me people are just now that people are just now that Perez Hilton is jackass? I knew that years ago!
CNY1983
He should try putting the squeeze on caitlyn jenner, they seem perfect for each other.
Preppy1000
I used to read him YEARS ago. At first I thought it was funny but then it got vicious and downright disturbing and I stopped reading. I’m surprised he’s still around. And man he looks TERRIBLE!
Phillip
” . . . So if people don’t like me, it doesn’t bother me.”
Really? Then quit whining about it now if you’re irredeemable and just live with it.
No one is really interested in your pity-party and the attention you’re trying to draw from it; you’re a has-been.
Dunnedin
To show how of the loop I was when he was “famous”, I kept getting him and Paris Hilton mixed up. When I saw his name mentioned somewhere, I thought someone had misspelled Paris or was making fun of Paris Hilton.
winemaker
He hasn’t been relevant in years so why is he relevant now?. Kind of like the kardashians and madonna, nobody with a life gives a rats ass about hearing updates and the latest episodes of their continuing drama. BTW: does perez hilton look like a monkey or simian of some sort?
Tombear
Seriously, why is this guy relevant?
Bumper
Perhaps it’s time to forgive and move on. Holding onto anger just isn’t good for the soul.