Paris Hilton Calls Gays 'Disgusting," Suggests They 'Probably had AIDS'
Paris Hilton have been relatively low key recently, but now, she has made an explosive comeback with some comments that deeply offended the gay community.
Hilton was recorded in a New York City cab calling gay men "disgusting" and suggesting they "probably had AIDS." She was having a conversation with an openly gay friend.
The gay friend was having a conversation with the heiress about a gay app, Grindr, that allows men to hookup with people who are relatively close to them.
"Ewww. Eww. To get f**ked? Gay guys are the horniest people in the world," Paris is heard saying in the audio in response. "They're disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS."
Since the audio, which was reported recorded two weeks ago, Hilton, 31, has been very apologetic.
"As anyone close to me knows, I always have been and always will be a huge supporter of the gay community," Hilton said in a statement to GLAAD. "I am so sorry and so upset that I caused pain to my gay friends, fans and their families with the comments heard this morning. I was having this private conversation with a friend of mine who is gay and our conversation was in no way towards the entire gay community. It is the last thing that I would ever want to do and I cannot put into words how much I wish I could take back every word."
Hilton said that she knows that HIV/AIDS can hurt gay and straight, men and women.
"It's something I take very seriously and should not have been thrown around in conversation," she said.
Hilton also said that gay people are the strongest and most inspiring people she knows.
"It is so wrong when people bully or put down others for being gay," she said. "No one should have to go through that. Again, I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart and I feel absolutely horrible. I hope that everyone can accept my apology and know that it is not who I am or how I feel in any way."
In 2009, Latinos accounted for 20 percent of new HIV infections while representing approximately 16 percent of the total U.S. population. The HIV infection rate among Latinos in 2009 was nearly three times as high as that of whites. In 2009, Latino gays accounted for 81 percent of new HIV infections among all Latino men and 20 percent among all gay men. Among Latino gay men, 45 percent of new HIV infections occurred in those under age 30.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at some point in life, 1 in 36 Latino men will be , diagnosed with HIV, as will 1 in 106 Latina women.