“I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute.” - Paris Hilton

After watching Paris’ CNN interview with Larry King, I have been dying to comment on it but I haven’t gotten around to it. This is crazy to admit, and many might feel a hell of a lot differently than me, but I actually felt a little sympathetic for the heiress. Call me nuts, but I just enjoy people. So many are quick to criticize Paris, and honestly, there’s plenty of reasons why. However, I can’t help but think about how she grew up. Of course she may not seem as academically smart as most of us, since she didn’t go to college and only received her GED, but the girl is definitely business-savvy.

Who else would cash on being famous for well…being famous? I think that Paris and her devil-may-care attitude is a sign that she obviously knows what she’s doing. She knows how to make money and is fairly good at it, in my opinion.

Also, her behavior is yes, at times atrocious. I think that however unfortunate it may be, it is pretty normal for a girl who grew up in the Manhattan Waldorf Astoria, virtually parentless and partying by age 14. What the girl needs is some help, and according to Larry King’s interview, she is receiving it in the form of a therapist. While the rest of us have gone through normal routine rites of passage, Paris has been given everything to her so incredibly fast and so scarily early. I think it’s wonderful that she finally realized that her dumb act is no longer cute (and she attended Catholic school AND is planning on going to Mass…we’ll see about that but wow, who knew? haha)

Her behavior is certainly comparable to other celebrities her age who have just as many issues from growing up too fast. Lindsay Lohan is now in rehab for alcohol and cocaine-related issues. Britney Spears shaved her head and had a brief stint in rehab as well earlier this year. The OC’s Mischa Barton recently was hospitalized for mixing alcohol with antiobiotics.

I also began to think while watching the interview: “Why do people care so much?” I realized that it’s pretty much why I love celebrity news so much. There are so much horrible things going on in this world that we are bombarded with every day. Sometimes it’s just nice to sit back, relax, and detach myself from the never-ending cable news cycle of Iraq, the Presidential election, terrorism and more. Sometimes it’s just fun to find out what Paris ate in jail during her stay. It’s my reasoning behind my ultimate career goal of being editor-in-chief of People Magazine. Maybe it’s because People is in every airport, every dentist’s office, and every waiting room in the U.S. Or perhaps it’s because like many other Americans, I enjoy a little escapism every so often. Journalism is journalism, no matter what form. Some types are more respected than others. I don’t know about you, but I’m a little excited about seeing where Paris takes herself from here.