BrainPong

I have never been shy to admit my guilty Perez Hilton pleasure. Something about the simplicity of  digitally-drawn white drips off the corner of a lame-brained starlet’s mouth tapped directly into my love for seeing most Hollywood types for what they really are: self-important and out of touch with reality.

Ironic and sad, then, that Perez has become an overnight embodiment of the same. And to the extent that having a broad audience matters to him, he’s now severely damaged his brand. (If mass appeal is not important to him — and that’s his prerogative — then the argument is moot.)

The Miss USA controversy requires no detailed rehashing. Miss California’s position on gay marriage is hardly surprising — it’s shared by the majority of her state, the majority of America, and, for now, by the President himself.

No surprise, either, that Hilton disagreed with her. (For the record, so do I.)

And sadly, in the current media climate, it’s also not surprising that her awkward condemnation of gay marriage would be vilified 24/7, as if she’d suggested that the world is flat, the moon is made of cheese or American Idol isn’t fixed.

What IS surprising is that Hilton has, with the Miss USA episode, revealed himself as exactly the kind of blowhard, classless celebrity he’s made a living attacking. And it’s a shame. It’s not that Perez has been immune to controversy; he’s often creating it. But normally it’s for others — he’s on the outside looking in, smartly opining on how the Hollywood circle should look, dress, act and speak. Or more often, how they shouldn’t. That’s where the honesty, charm and humor of Perez Hilton shines brightest.

With the Miss USA incident, he’s taken his brand away from its core competency. When he agrees to be a pageant judge, asks a controversial question, and upon receiving a controversial answer calls her a bitch for days on end, he reveals himself to be exactly the kind of lame-brained Hollywood elitist that most of America cannot relate to, whether they agree with his cause or not.

I support gay marriage. And it is exactly for that reason that I find myself not supporting Perez. Equal rights in this country have never been won on the backs of those who believe the road to that equality is paved with petty name-calling. Intelligence generally wins. But in this case, there hasn’t been much of that on display from Mr. Hilton.

So sorry, Perez. I’ve been a huge fan of your blog for years. Have even advocated for my clients to advertise there. But until you grow up, I’m checking out.