US socialite Paris Hilton crossed a picket line of striking BBC workers to promote her new book.
Hilton walked past members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) as she left Broadcasting House in London on Thursday, after speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour.
She was speaking to the programme to promote her new book Paris: The Memoir.
BBC workers are striking to defend local radio stations from cuts planned by the corporation.
Hi @parishilton 👋 we can send you a flag to help you show solidarity with journalists on strike in their fight to save BBC Local radio services. All you need to know https://t.co/HYEZF3sJW5 #KeepBBCLocalRadioLocal pic.twitter.com/AHQCJ0SCLv
— NUJ (@NUJofficial) March 16, 2023
A video from the scene showed Hilton walking away as a woman followed her and tried to get her to take an NUJ flag.
The union's official Twitter account posted the clip with the caption: "Hi [Paris Hilton] we can send you a flag to help you show solidarity with journalists on strike in their fight to save BBC local radio services."
Susana Mendonca, an NUJ representative for BBC Radio London, who was campaigning against planned cuts to local radio stations, described the moment as the “most surprising picketing experience ever”.
“We were surprised she crossed our picket lines,” Mendonca told the PA news agency.
“I think this is the most surprising picketing experience that I’ve ever had.
“We didn’t expect to see Paris Hilton, but we wanted to see if we could get her support.”
Another striking worker asked Hilton if she supported local radio as she walked away.
“She looked back and smiled at us, so I’ll take that as a yes,” Mendonca said.
“I didn’t speak to her, but I waved my flag and she looked back at our flag before giving a smile.”
Twitter user @rosiehuz posted a photo of Hilton smiling at onlookers as she left the BBC’s London headquarters.
“That’s hot. Comrade Paris Hilton on the BBC NUJ picket line this morning in London (yes it’s really her),” she tweeted.
Video posted to the NUJ’s Twitter account showed Ms Hilton in a navy blue dress and sunglasses.
