Vacant: Paris Hilton Sues NZ Company for Billboard Insult

I got a giggle out of seeing this billboard a while ago. I never thought twice that news of it would actually reach Paris Hilton herself.

Paris Sues NZ Company for Billboard Insult

McGregor said he assumed that an agency had “taken care of the rights” to the image of Paris.

US socialite Paris Hilton has threatened to sue a New Zealand company for using her picture on a billboard with the word “vacant” written across it.

Media reports say Media5 used the photo to advertise vacant billboard space in Wellington. [and auckland]

Hilton’s manager Jamie Freed said from Los Angeles that Media5 did not gain permission to use the image of her partying and could expect to hear from her lawyers.

Media5’s Adam McGregor said the company was just having a “bit of fun” with the billboard, which was designed to draw attention to the unsold display.

A gaffe-prone former Kiwi politician was also considered as a candidate.

“We were thinking about using Winston Peters, but Paris is much prettier and she has a proven ability to laugh at herself,” he told the Sunday Star Times.

Mr McGregor said if Hilton’s lawyers asked, the company would remove the image.

“We’re not trying to offend anyone,” he said.