Paris Hilton Fires Publicist As Jail Term Approaches
Posted May 7, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Paris Hilton has fired her publicist in the wake of a court decision to sentence her to 45 days in jail over a driving offense. The hotel heiress let veteran publicist Elliot Mintz go after receiving the shocking news that she was going to be spending more than a month behind bars. She reportedly blames Mintz for an apparent misunderstanding that resulted in last week’s sentence for violating probation terms in a previous reckless driving case.
Hilton claimed at a Los Angeles Superior Court hearing that Mintz had told her she was permitted to drive for work-related reasons after her license was suspended for driving under the influence of alcohol. Judge Michael Sauer wouldn’t accept her contention. The 26-year-old socialite has since said she feels she’s been treated cruelly. Mintz apologized for the misunderstanding and wished Hilton well.
As for how Hilton’s upcoming jail time will affect her career, many feel it won’t do her any harm. “It will actually increase her star appeal in a very sick and demented way,” said longtime publicist Michael Levine. “There’s a segment of our society that’s somehow engaged in the soap opera that is Paris Hilton, and this a very compelling plot line in the soap opera.”
Hilton has been ordered to report to a county jail by June 5 to serve her sentence.
Motion to revoke Paris Hilton’s probation:
http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_documents/hilton_revoke.pdf
Image Credit: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images
