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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

When it comes to her sex video, Paris is burning mad


Paris Hilton
 (The Spokesman-Review)
The Spokesman-Review

Paris Hilton is being investigated for suspicion of petty theft – of her own sex tape. An employee at Swing News in West Hollywood said Hilton became enraged after spotting the sex video “One Night in Paris” on sale at the newsstand.

“She threw her 80 cents change at me (from buying magazines) and took the video and said, ‘I’m taking this, and I’m not buying it,’ ” Gerry Castro said.

He also said Hilton and her bodyguards attempted to rip up a poster and pull down a display advertising the video.

Paris’ sister, Nicky, said Castro overreacted by pursuing charges.

“She did something anyone would have done in this situation,” Nicky Hilton said. “I think this guy is trying to make it into a big deal, to get some publicity for his newsstand.”

The sex tape surfaced in 2003 just before the start of Hilton’s reality TV series “The Simple Life.”

Give ‘em some love, Shaq

Shaquille O’Neal didn’t have any trouble choosing a wedding gift for Donald Trump and Melania Knauss.

“Phantom Rolls-Royce, a white one,” O’Neal said, referring to the massive luxury car that starts around $325,000 in price. “It’ll be parked at my house when he wants to use it.”

The Miami Heat center and his wife, Shaunie, were among the estimated 400 guests who attended Trump’s wedding Saturday night in Palm Beach, Fla.

Ozzy is alive – really

Ozzy Osbourne is alive and kicking, despite Internet rumors to the contrary.

The MTV reality star’s publicists have been inundated with calls following reports that he had died after he and wife Sharon missed a scheduled appearance on “The Tonight Show” last Thursday.

Osbourne actually is holed up in Britain recording an all-star tsunami aid benefit single with daughter Kelly, Rod Stewart and Elton John, among others.

‘Housewives’ in the house

During the week of Feb. 7, the stars of “Desperate Housewives” – Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Nicollette Sheridan, Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross – will take turns co-hosting “The View” when the daytime talk show broadcasts from Los Angeles.

They’ll be filling in for moderator Meredith Vieira, who will not be making the trip from the show’s regular home in New York due to family obligations.

She’ll keep on stargazing

It’s official: Star Jones Reynolds will be back on the red carpet for E! Entertainment Television’s coverage of this year’s Grammys and Oscars.

Reynolds, who stepped in when Joan Rivers and daughter Melissa Rivers left E!, has done preshows for last September’s Emmys and this month’s Golden Globes.

Don’t take my wife – please

NBC President Jeff Zucker is trying to shoot down speculation that “Today” host Katie Couric is a candidate to replace Dan Rather on the “CBS Evening News.”

Zucker said Couric’s contract extends for another year and a half and an extension is being negotiated. And, he added: “We’ve decided that if CBS goes after Katie Couric, we’re going after Julie Chen.”

Chen, one of “The Early Show” hosts, married CBS Chairman Les Moonves over the holidays.

The birthday bunch

Actor Dean Jones is 74. Singer Etta James is 67. Actress Leigh Taylor-Young (“Peyton Place”) is 61. Actress Dinah Manoff (“Empty Nest”) is 47. Singer Alicia Keys is 24.