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Paris Pulls a Britney, Quits Billboard Awards
When it comes to national exposure, even Britney Spears and Paris Hilton have their limits—despite a week's worth of photographic evidence that seemingly proves otherwise.
Less than a week after Spears pulled out of cohosting and just three days before Hilton was due to emcee solo, the heiress has backed out of microphone-managing duties at tonight's Billboard Music Awards.
"It is my understanding that some satirical references ridiculed some of her peers," the heiress' publicist, Elliot Mintz, told the Associated Press. "Paris did not want to say anything that could appear hurtful or embarrassing about people she knows."
In other words, Hilton is no mean girl. At least not on national TV.
According to Mintz, Spears' new BFF pulled out Friday afternoon when Hilton read the latest draft of the ceremony's script and found certain jokes to be "objectionable."
Hilton and Billboard were reportedly unable to reach a compromise on the apparently unacceptable banter, leading the "Stars Are Blind" singer to take her version of the high road and pull out of the gig altogether.
A Billboard spokesman did not corroborate the ill-humored accusations but said the door is still open should Hilton—or Spears—have a change of heart.
"I cannot speculate on why Paris canceled, but we are still holding out hope that Britney and Paris will show up," Michael Levitt, executive producer of the award show, told E! News.
As for Spears, it's still unclear why she dropped out, though, according to Us Weekly, she pulled out last Tuesday when the twosome were in the midst of final negotiations.
One possibility for the abrupt nixing was Spears' displeasure with how her appearance at another music awards show went down.
Two weeks ago, the pop star made a surprise appearance as presenter at the American Music Awards, only to seethe backstage after unwittingly participating in a reportedly unauthorized K-Fed send-up skit.
A prospective divorcée has standards, after all.
As it is, the paparazzi-friendly stars aren't the only big-name no-shows for tonight's ceremony.
Last week, Celine Dion announced that she too would be MIA from the do. Recently diagnosed with mycoplasma bronchitis, a highly contagious respiratory infection, Dion decided to slot in more recovery time. The Titanic-voiced songbird was due to present the Century Award, Billboard's lifetime achievement equivalent, to Tony Bennett. The honor will instead be bestowed by Stevie Wonder.
Billboard has yet to announce a replacement host for either Spears or Hilton, though even without the two stars, there's no danger that the show will be lacking famous faces.
The Fray, Fergie, the Killers, Gwen Stefani and Ludacris are all set to perform during the kudosfest. As for the awards themselves, Nickelback, Rascal Flatts, T.I. and Mary J. Blige lead the contenders with five nods apiece.
The Billboard Music Awards air live from Las Vegas on Fox.
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