Entertainment> Celebrities

Paris Hilton rehires fired publicist

(Reuters)
2007-05-08 17:33

Heiress and reality TV star Paris Hilton (2nd L) arrives for her hearing at the Los Angeles Municipal Court, May 4, 2007. [Reuters]

Jail-bound socialite Paris Hilton has kissed and made up with the veteran publicist she dumped over the weekend after blaming him for getting her into trouble with the law.

"I represent Paris and I'm proud to," Elliot Mintz told Reuters early on Tuesday after a night out with his client.

"We had a wonderful evening, we talked, and our media relationship resumes uninterrupted."

The relationship was, in fact, briefly interrupted in the immediate aftermath of Hilton's Friday court appearance, when a judge sentenced her to a 45-day jail term for a probation violation stemming from an alcohol-related reckless driving offense last year.

Hilton told the judge that Mintz had informed her it was all right to drive on a suspended license for work obligations. Mintz also took the stand in her defense, but the judge said his testimony was worthless.

Mintz, 62, released a statement on Sunday, saying he no longer represented the 26-year-old hotels heiress, and he apologized for giving her dubious legal advice.

By late Monday, Mintz was back in Hilton's good graces. But he declined to explain what had caused the turnaround.

"Whatever there was is no more," said Mintz, whose clients have included John Lennon and Bob Dylan. "I don't choose to revisit that which is divisive. I'm only interested in that which is healing."

Hilton's attorneys on Monday filed a formal notice of appeal. Unless the appeal succeeds, she must report to the 2,200-inmate Century Regional Detention Facility south of downtown Los Angeles by June 5.

"She's a very strong woman," Mintz said. "Obviously, she's taking all of this with great seriousness."