By Ali Ikram
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton took internet scandal to new heights this year.
Hilton not only broke a series of major show business stories in 2009, but on a couple of occasions he was the story.
But to call Hilton a parasite would be unkind - to the often useful roles parasites sometimes perform.
In a world where the famous are sometimes simply famous for being famous, the blogger has become famous for writing about them.
Already running a phenomenally successful gossip site, it was his question on gay marriage to Miss USA contestant Carrie Prejean that made news around the world.
"In my family marriage should be between a man and a woman," was her answer.
She might have only been expressing a belief commonly held in the US, but Hilton crucified the Christian beauty queen.
"She lost not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage," he said. "Miss California lost because she's a dumb bitch."
He could run a school for scandal, and has mastered the art of baiting a celebrity with a delicate ego - for instance will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas – and wait till he, or in this case his management, lash out.
Then, milk the resulting publicity for all it's worth.
All of this has been great for business. Perezhilton.com racked up a staggering 13.9 million page views in the 24 hours after the Oscars.
Now Hilton has just released a book. Threats of legal action from Drew Barrymore soon followed, but it's unlikely to stop him.
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