On the Media How a Gossip Blogger (almost) Became the Poster Child for First Amendment Rights
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Dec 10, 2025 Joel Simon, founding director of the Journalism Protection Initiative, discusses the legal battle involving gossip blogger Perez Hilton and a subpoena from Blake Lively’s team. Simon explores the complexities of who qualifies as a journalist and the importance of expanding legal protections for them. He highlights Hilton's fearless resistance and unique sourcing methods, while also addressing the evolving nature of journalism in the face of informal news gatherers. The conversation weaves in the ACLU's interest in broadening journalist definitions and the implications for press freedom.
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Perez Hilton's Provocative Career
- Perez Hilton built a long career chronicling celebrity culture with provocative, often cruel commentary that drove clicks.
- Joel Simon describes Hilton's history of outing celebrities and harassing figures like Britney Spears as part of his controversial shtick.
Subpoena Over Alleged Smear Campaign
- Blake Lively's team subpoenaed Hilton seeking his notes to prove a claimed smear campaign against Lively related to sexual harassment allegations.
- Joel Simon says the subpoena seemed like a fishing expedition since they lacked clear evidence tying Hilton to coordination.
Self-Representation And AI Hallucinations
- Hilton couldn't afford lawyers, represented himself pro se, and used ChatGPT to draft legal briefs.
- His first filings contained false citations from AI 'hallucinations,' which he later corrected by careful checking.
