Zac Efron takes the high road on Perez Hilton...
Zac Efron is the cover boy of the new issue of Details magazine and the interview inside is pretty good. When I saw him at the Palm Springs Film Festival awards gala earlier this month, I couldn't help but notice the difference between Zac and "Into the Wild" star Emile Hirsch.
Zac was sort of daring around, blowing off requests for interviews and getting his picture taken with Vanessa Hudgens while Emile was calmly doing interview after interview, giving thoughtful answers and tuning out the madness surrounding him.
Anyway, in the Details article, here is what Zac has to say about the ever-present paparazzi: “They use espionage tactics, and they’re malicious and relentless. Anything to get a reaction. Anything to get that frown, or a scream into the camera, or some kind of backlash. They’ve got that photo where all of a sudden, you know, Zac’s frowning—now he’s on crack! They shout things about your mom, about your family. It’s a weird industry that I’m still getting used to. But sometimes it just takes all your might not to literally swing at these guys.”
Then mean-spirited blogger known as Perez Hilton is brought up. The blogger has insinuated that Zac is gay and nicknamed him “Zacquisha.” The actor says: “I know it’s very addictive to read that kind of stuff. It’s entertainment. Perez has obviously struck a chord in the public eye. He’s doing something right. That deserves admiration—I think he does a great job. Um—” He pauses for a moment, then adds, “Honestly, if the worst he can say about me is that I’m gay, then I think I’ll be fine. I can handle it.”
Has he met Perez? “No, I haven’t yet. But I look forward to it,” he says, laughing. “I think it’ll be a fun conversation.”
I dunno. Doesn't sound like it would be that fun.
Here is a video of some of Zach's interview:
Greg Hernandez has covered the entertainment industry for the Daily
News since 2001. He's considered a bit odd by some for his obsession
with box office numbers, has been known to camp out near the kitchen
at premieres for first crack at the hors d'oeurves, and Greg's never
seen a red carpet he didn't want to stroll down.