Celebutantes As Role Models
Do you think that celebutantes should be considered role models?
Alexander Ali: No little girl should ever watch MTV and I'll tell you why: Paris Hilton, Nicole, celebutantes in general, L.C. and even "My Super Sweet Sixteen." If I was a parent I'd turn off MTV so fast! Lynn Warren: But who's to say these celebutantes have a responsibility to be role models? Who says if you're famous, you're responsible for setting forth an image that is worthy of children's and teens to aspire to? That's not part of the deal. I mean, just because when I was a little gay boy I watched Madonna and rolled around on the floor and sang "Like a Virgin" doesn't mean that every little kid's going to do that. I mean, their responsibility is to entertain us, not to be a moral code or a moral order for us to follow. That is your religious sect, that's your parents, that's your teachers. If parents don't like what these girls are doing, then don't subject your children to them. This is a free country, these girls are entertainers -- AA:You don't think --LW:-- we're certainly entertained. I've been talking about them for hours today! AA:Oh, please. You don't think these girls should go any deeper? LW: No! They're making millions not going deeper. Why should they change what they're doing? They're having a good time, they're living the life, they're partying it up. But you know what? At the end of the day we're all buying magazines, we're all logging on to websites, we're the ones doing interviews about it. We're all part of it. And to blame them for that, and to make it their fault? It's not their fault. We're the consumers.
Do you think celebutantes send the wrong message to young girls?
I think that these celebutantes could go a little deeper and I think that that they are trying to go deeper, they're trying to be role models. If they're going to put out a perfume and a Barbie and a fashion line, then they need someone to buy that perfume, Barbie and fashion line; I don't buy it, you don't buy it, little girls buy it. Yeah, but the lives that they live are not a reflection of their product. Do you think that Donatella Versace is going to church every Sunday? No. Millions of people are spending millions of dollars on their clothes, on their products because of the lifestyle they project. Paris Hilton, Lindsay, yeah sure, they're all a mess but they live a glamorous lifestyle whether we like it or not. These children aspire for that. Is that a good thing? Maybe not. Is it a real thing? Yes. And do parents have the control to turn it off, to not subject their children to that? Yes. Do these girls have a responsibility to project a great image? No. The image they're projecting is the one they want to and the one that's making them millions and millions and millions of dollars. Ok, but also, lets step back and realize that a celebutante is not a role model. They are not supposed to be a role model, that's why we consider them celebutantes. We want them to party and to get drunk and go to jail and do the drugs; that's why they're famous, so I don't think anyone props these girls up as role models. Paris tried to start her career as a role model. She tried to write books for kids, she tried to, say, drink Red Bull's at parties and not cocktails, but then she couldn't hide behind that. Yeah, they tried to take that road and even they knew they were kidding.
Do you think celebutantes get away with illegal activities because they're famous?
I think these girls and these young starlets, these celebutantes get into these nightclubs and are able to get away with things because of their celebrity. When these, when Rumer Willis is photographed going into the Villa, one of the hardest clubs to get into in Hollywood, that club gets tons of press, granted it gets a lot of press because she is underage, but it doesn't matter, press is press and these kids are held up to a higher standard, they are respected and their, you know in Hollywood they're so admired, they're a huge star, so they very rarely get questioned because in Hollywood your status is who are you? What is your name? You know, where are you from? And these people are Hollywood royalty, they are famous from being part of families that are very powerful and you don't ever want to, you know, you don't ever want to rub these people the wrong way because they will hold it against you.
Which celebutante has had the best mug shot?
Oh God best celebutant mug shot? I would say that would be Paris Hilton. It goes to Paris. She looked great. Hair to the side, beautiful skin, not too much makeup. She dropped her chin, she looked up at the camera. She definitely did a good picture. She definitely worked on it. Good for you Paris. And she received the best exit from prison too. The walk so that everyone could get the picture, and then the run to her mom. It was so fabulous. When she got out of Linwood jail, she was so fabulous. She did 4 to 8 steps sachet, chante, picture, picture, picture and then run girl "take me to Mr Chow's I'm starving".
Do celebutantes try to do any charity work?
They've all started to realize now that maybe they should give back. They're all starting new charities. Nicole Richie donated all the gifts from her baby shower to charity. And then like everyone's in this whole giving mode. Lindsey Lohan gives now, and like signs stuff away that she signs for charity. Paris has her charity - well, she never really went to Africa. No. But they're all trying to turn a new leaf and be philanthropic, but really it's all just a publicity stunt.
