In today's issue
Paris on the loose
tabloid! reporter Kelly Crane watched the socialite dance the night away in Lebanon, but Hilton didn't steal the show this time around .
- By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:04 July 4, 2009
tabloid! reporter Kelly Crane watched the socialite dance the night away in Lebanon, but Hilton didn't steal the show this time around .
More than two weeks of toeing the party line had clearly taken its toll on renowned party girl Paris Hilton, who finally let loose in Lebanon.
Knocking back tequila shots - wrestling the lemon with her tongue - the heiress danced the night away at Forum de Beyrouth on Friday.
Taking centre stage on a raised platform VVIP area, fans below looked on as Hilton danced energetically with her friends and entourage.
Hilton made it clear from the outset that everything was going to go her way.
"I want hip-hop," she bellowed over a personal radio microphone provided in order for her to request songs.
"This music sucks," she said to the people nearby.
Making sure she stood out from the crowd, Hilton, dressed in a furry neon yellow dress (slightly shorter than we're used to seeing her wearing in Dubai), positioned herself on the edge of the podium.
Sporadically reaching down to sign books, photos, napkins and pieces of paper for fans below, Hilton was in good spirits as she danced.
Good job as Hilton had some making up to do on behalf of the Crystal Group, organisers of the open-air event.
People paying up to $150 (Dh550.5) a ticket were expecting American Boy singer Estelle but were informed on the night the London-born songstress was unable to attend due to "political and security" issues.
Many disappointed party goers demanded their money back and left saying they had come to see Estelle and not Hilton - some even saying they didn't know who the heiress was. But Paris fans were still the majority, screaming as she entered the venue at around 1.30am.
Not a sell-out event, at times the venue looked a little sparse as large pockets of the club were left empty and people who had been waiting since 10pm started to drift off.
A VVIP area she may have had. A VVIP toilet she didn't, which made a bathroom run nothing short of a mission. They say girls go in pairs. Paris went with a pack.
An entourage of about eight were escorted to the bathroom (which was emptied of "normal" people first) while muscled security guards created two human walls, forming a corridor allowing her to get to the door.
Was it completely necessary for the 20 people who were standing by hoping to catch a glimpse of the star?
Paris was just Paris. As we've seen in Dubai everything is always "pretty awesome" and the people are always "so lovely, kind and gracious" and she's "totally excited to be here".
The difference? The dress was shorter and the drinks flowed more freely.
It was Michael Jackson who really stole the show as the crowd was treated to a musical medley of songs from every album he created. Looking up at the stars as hit after hit began and people screamed for their favourites, from Keep it in the Closet to Thriller, the night was given a new lease of life.
No Estelle, Paris on her platform (when she wasn't on the bathroom run), leaving it to Jackson who once again saved the day.
Kingston rocks Beirut
Paris Hilton wasn't the only star lighting up Beirut's social scene on Friday night, with young reggae star Sean Kingston also in town.
"I love you Lebanon," an energetic Kingston shouted out across the ocean from the rooftop VIP club Skybar.
Hundreds of people packed the guest-list-only club to see the 19-year-old perform as only he knows how.
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