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Hilton says youth suicides changed him

Tue 28 Jun 2011 In: International News

Perez Hilton The world's most famous celebrity blogger Perez Hilton says while gay men used to be embarrassed by him, he's a changed man. In an exclusive interview, the man who made his name digging dirt has told Pinknews.co.uk that things changed last year when there was a high-profile rash of gay teenagers committing suicide in America. "I was blogging about how awful it was and encouraging young people to seek help rather than take their own life when a lot of people started calling me a hypocrite and a bully myself. I’d never viewed myself as a bully. I’d always justified what I said and did by the fact I was dealing with celebrities: that they know what they’re signing up for. But if enough people say you’re a hypocrite and a bully then that’s what you are,” he's told the site. The out gay man has blogged consistently in favour of gay rights, was also known for stunts such as outing Lance Bass and Neil Patrick Harris and nicknaming Lindsay Lohan "Lezio". All that has changed. "I think for the longest time gay men were embarrassed and upset by me and thought I was a poor representation of the gay community. Having made the changes I have I'm still able to be sassy and opinionated, but I can sleep better at night knowing I’m not contributing to the problem," he has tolfd Pink News. Hilton says he prepared himself for his traffic to drop when he became less bitchy; "Thankfully though it hasn't."    

Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff

First published: Tuesday, 28th June 2011 - 4:21pm

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