After years of remaining silent, Britney Spears delivered a bombshell testimony regarding her conservatorship earlier this week, which she alleges abused her via drugs, restricted her reproductive rights and held under forced labor comparable to human trafficking. As celebs rally around the #FreeBritney movement, Perez Hilton is offering not only his support, but an apology for the years he smeared the pop legend‘s reputation.
“I can’t say I was just young and dumb. I think we know a lot more. And initially, many folks, myself included, were shocked and alarmed and especially concerned for her young children,” Hilton said in an interview with Sky News. He continued, “I know I did not express myself as well as I could have. I didn’t lead with empathy and compassion, which thankfully seems like most people now are understanding the severity of Britney’s situation. I absolutely apologize and carry deep shame and regret.” Despite his remorse, fans recall the scathing comments that the gossip columnist has made regarding Spears’ often-public mental health crises over the years. One of his most disparaging acts of sheer harassment came in 2008 after the tragic death of Heath Ledger. In response, Hilton printed shirts that read, “Why Wasn’t It Britney?” Even recently in his 2020 memoir, Hilton tore into Spears once again, calling her an “embarrassment” and attributing her hardships to her “party lifestyle.”
The resurfacing of his disparaging remarks is placing Hilton under the same scorching fires he once held other celebrities to. In response to his backlash, Hilton post a video to his YouTube titled, “My Message To Britney Spears And The Free Britney Movement.” “Today I have been getting so much hate and bullying from people who were and are upset about how I used to talk about Britney Spears,” he said in the lengthy video. In the video he dons a T-shirt plastered with the pop star’s face, a stark contrast to his previous garment selections. He continued, “And my message to all those people is: f*ck you! It just does not compute that you’re going to bully someone for bullying somebody in the past. How does that make you any better than what I did? I fully own how reprehensible I used to be in the day.”
