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Example of an edited photo from Wikipedia's "Simple Life" entryHOLLYWOOD (CAP) - The Hollywood elite used to hire lawyers, publicists and managers to massage their all-important images whenever crisis hit. More often than not these days they are reaching for a mouse and pointing their browsers towards Wikipedia.
Wikipedia touts itself as the Internet's foremost editable encyclopedia, a feature that lends itself to abuse. Just how abusive "editors" can be was apparent recently when Virgil Griffith's WikiScanner let everyone see just who was making changes to Wikipedia entries.
While the WikiScanner revelation of editing-manipulation originating from computers at NASA, the White House and Fox News surprised few, many were shocked to discover that the Hollywood bad-girl clique is not only computer literate, but also apparently hell-bent on Wikipedia domination.
Take the Paris Hilton entry. A mention of her recent courtroom drama:
As Paris was led from the courtroom, she burst into tears and yelled, "Mommy! Mommy!"
Was edited by a computer traced to Hilton's California mansion to read:
As a defiant Paris was dragged from the courtroom, she thrust an arm in the air and yelled, "Tupac! Tupac!"
"I think it's obvious that no one want to find themselves in a rough situation, before dozens of cameras, and basically start bawling for mommy," said Hollywood columnist Tripp Holliday. "By remaking that episode into sort of a gangsta-hip moment as opposed to a little whiny bitch one, her image comes out looking much better."
Lindsey Lohan and her laptop have apparently been putting her rehab time to good use by also frequenting the Wikipedia editing room. One recent change involved a late night paparazzi photo of the actress heading home after a binge:
...where she was apparently passed out in the car, mouth open, after a long night of bar hopping.
Was edited to read:
...where she was engaged in heavy mediation in the car, chanting softly, after a long night of casual business meetings.
"Are they doing it themselves, or paying some techie to smooth over the rough edges?" Holliday asked. "Hard to say, although sometimes it's just really obvious."
Britney Spears:
The following night, Spears went to a haircutting studio in Tarzana, California and subsequently shaved her own hair off with clippers.
Became:
Y'all, Britney was drunk the fuck up, ok? She thought about drinking the bottle of Mr. Clean, but decided insted she just wanted to look like the guy on the bottle, ok? So she went and got a haircut, big hairy deal. Ha, I made a funy!
Many entries have since been removed.
