Shocked "celebrity" Paris Hilton has been sentenced to serve 45 days in jail for violation of her driving suspension. She did what most stars do - blamed her agent.
Paris Hilton doesn’t want to go to jail.
In the interesting world of celebrity, Ms. Hilton’s attempt to avoid a 45-day sentence probably surprises few. The hotel heiress, who some would argue has talents that are yet to be discovered, appeared to have done what many in Hollywood would do - blame someone else.
Ms. Hilton told a judge that other people, including her agent, read things for her, thus the reason she didn’t know about her driver’s license suspension. Ms. Hilton’s license was suspended and she was spotted by paparazzi allegedly driving under the influence at least a couple of times.
But, a month-and-a-half in the slammer for Ms. Hilton is apparently way too much time and the punishment doesn’t fit the crime, she argues. "There was a time when celebrity meant a lot," Damon Harris, a former member of the Motown Group The Temptations said in an interview with this columnist this week. "Gone are the days when the Oscars, Grammies and other award shows were done with so much dignity and long gone are the days when a celebrity was spotted on the town, he or she was on their very best behavior," Mr. Harris said.
Now the heiress is asking fans to sign petitions seeking a pardon by former celeb and current California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, according to a host of media reports . While the governor remains mum on the petition, high-profile Law Professor Laurie Levenson told the Chicago Tribune she "didn't think the Founding Fathers had Paris Hilton's driving conviction in mind when they enacted the cruel and unusual punishment provision of the Constitution. " In the post-O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson and Robert Blake trials world, it is always surprising when a judge stands up and does what the court would not think twice about doing to Joe Non-Celebrity: punishes the person responsible for their crime."You don't want to be the celebrity after O.J. Simpson, Robert Blake and Michael Jackson are acquitted and suggest that you are asking for special treatment," Ms. Levinson said.
Perhaps a new trend began with Martha Stewart and Lil’ Kim. Each spent time "inside". Perhaps courts and maybe even jurors are now saying enough is enough and maybe society - ordinary people - are finally rejecting these so-called celebs.
But will the stars sit up and take notice? "I think other celebrities will take notice," said Mr. Harris, whose Amazon.com short book ,"Fighting Temptation," delves into what he says are the egos of many celebrities. "I think Paris Hilton going to jail will wake a lot of people up."
