The giant heroic statue Vegas nightclubs have erected to Paris Hilton seems to have a soft white powder for feet.
Paris Hilton has been naughty in Vegas for many, many years now. The first time I saw her where she should not be was a New Year’s weekend, Guns & Roses concert at the Hard Rock more than a decade ago. She was not yet 21. Then there was the time her underage boyfriend was photographed at Tao with what looked like Champagne. And then, there was the alleged trashing of a VIP space at Hard Rock by the same boyfriend and crew. I once watched Paris Hilton walk into a wall at Jet at Mirage. And, about a year ago, a star from Planet Hollywood’s Peepshow sent out a Tweet from the casino’s now shuttered nightclub Prive: “@ Prive exiting bathroom, blond girl surrounded by people, can barely stand We step aside she comes in. Paris Wasted.” Prive managed to get into lots of trouble with Nevada gaming authorities before bankruptcy for not policing the club. Serving a clearly intoxicated patron is the sort of behavior that causes such problems.
Wynn Resorts nightclub executive Cy Waits, certainly knew he was answerable to Nevada gaming regulations that can judge a person by his associations. Yesterday rumors that Waits has parted with Wynn were pointedly not confirmed by the resort. The view on the ground though is that Waits is on borrowed time until he is toast at Wynn. I hope that is wrong. Or, at least, the borrowed time is used to figure out what happened. There are just too many facts still not known. Waits was not driving erratically when pulled over. The police claim to have pulled the car over because of the smell of marijuana. But if there was no marijuana confiscated–and none has been mentioned so far– that raises a distressing question. The smell of pot on the Strip is common. But it is very hard to tell where the smell comes from amidst the people, traffic and other smells that mingle through Las Vegas Boulevard on a Friday night. To be able to tell the smell is coming from one specific car would require the smoke to literally be pouring out with a window down. But what if there was no pot found in the car? How could there have been such a “vapor trail?” Can the police just pull over a car that has committed no driving indiscretion and start searching the passengers because pot smoke is somewhere nearby on the Strip?
I don’t want to ride this speculation further, only to show, how speculation can go into a near infinite number of directions. And, Cy Waits deserves not only the presumption of innocence in his court case, but also enough loyalty from the resort he works at to wait for the facts to emerge.
I get that there is not tremendous wiggle room. If Cy Waits was caught with pot or fails a drug test or was driving intoxicated from the nightclubs where he works, there would seem to be a price he must pay in terms of working at a Vegas gambling resort. But being arrested for a suspected DUI under these circumstance should mean nothing. Leaving aside drugs, for now, we don’t know if he even had any drinks that night. The only public fact is that he was driving a car in which a passenger is accused of having cocaine concealed in a purse where he could not have seen it. Until there is solid information, I hope Wynn Resorts, stands by an employee who has spent years building up some of the best nightclubs in Las Vegas. For a town known for giving second chances, Vegas can be merciless when someone on top stumble.
Paris Hilton is another matter. For many years Vegas nightclubs have paid her hosting fees while overlooking her seeming public drunkenness (and occasionally other issues). For this incident, even an explanation that she was carrying a friend’s drugs, would have her bringing cocaine into Wynn before getting into that car.
Unlike Waits, Hilton has a history in Vegas that no one has ever held her accountable for in any way. Hilton’s behavior in Vegas would be none of our business if she were just a customer at a nightclub. But she is both a paid host and a VIP. Hilton, among other privileges, is routinely allowed access to employee only areas in a casino. That is a bad place to have someone who, best explanation, isn’t even in control of her life enough to know if she has cocaine on her person.
Hilton always says behind her party image there is a business woman. Fine. Paris Hilton works in Vegas at being paid to party. But Hilton being hired as the business associate of any nightclub in Vegas at this point should raise issues with gaming authorities. For years gaming regulators have been specifically warning the Strip nightclubs, in a rather toothless way, while situations like this arise, that there will be consequences. Paying for the presence of Paris Hilton might be a good choice for one of those consequences. (Photo: Sarah Gerke)
Some good points, Richard. Enjoyed the article.
To add to your discussion, I just wanted to point out that the news articles say the vehicle was pulled over by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) bicycle police that routinely patrol along that busy part of the Strip. So, I guess it’s possible they probably pinpointed with some degree of certainty where the smell was coming from. I could be wrong, but I’m playing devil’s advocate here on the side of LVMPD. The good news is that Paris Hilton didn’t point a rolled up 100 dollar bill at them and got blown away. (Sorry for that cheap shot. I am actually pro-police, but I couldn’t resist that politically incorrect comment.)
Mr. Cy Waits, along with his brother, will probably be let go by Mr. Steve Wynn. In the past, he has let employees go for DUIs and other criminal charges that shed his casino in a bad light in the media.
It makes sense. Because Steve Wynn has a whole casino to worry about. And to keep employees that do this don’t help him in the eyes of the Nevada Gaming Commission. Like you pointed out, it’s casino business. And casino business is dog eat dog. He continually has to make efforts to show he is complying with not just one law, but every law.
I was laughing about what everyone pretty much knows about Paris Hilton here in Las Vegas. She likes this place. It’s her playground to make money for nothing. And if she wants to walk into a wall, damnit, she can do what she damn well wants!
But that seems to be coming to an end now.
Just wanted to add if that cocaine is hers (which I’m pretty sure it is…because this “it ain’t my purse” thing is really not going to work), this means three things.
First, because she makes a lot of money, cocaine, which is expensive, seems to be her choice of drugs. And if she has it on her and is easily found like it was the other night, that tells me she is used to doing what she wants. This, alongside where she was arrested in South Africa for drugs during the World Cup (but got off), tells me she probably has had this cocaine habit for quite awhile now. It is only just coming to see the light of day. (As a side note, this is just another example of money don’t make people happy. If she has this habit, she must be depressed and/or depressing, a dreary life if she needs that highly physically and emotionally and mentally addictive drug as a crutch.)
And second, you pointed out that she was hired to host at nightclubs on Wynn properties quite a few times, to which she has been paid handsomely. I would be willing to bet those days are over with at the Wynn. And not only that, I would be willing to bet she will be declared persona non grata…eighty-sixed from Wynn properties. She’ll levitate back over to the Mirage and P-Ho.
And third, if she appears before a judge on these cocaine charges, and the judge were to look at her booking photograph, I am very, very sure he wouldn’t be pleased. Because her booking photograph shows she don’t appear to place to much emphasis on the severity of the charge and even appears to look at it as a chance to pose in front of the cameras for the press. Just based on that booking photo, I really wouldn’t blame the judge for throwing the book at her.
Paris Hilton was arrested and thrown in jail and cried her eyes out one time before. Now? It really, really looks like she didn’t figure things out then. Those were indeed crocodile tears. Perhaps when she is convicted and thrown into a desert prison, this second appearance behind bars will sink in. Because there won’t be one single person swayed by those tears if they happen again. She slam dunked herself.
Just my thoughts, Richard….
Great article. You made many valid points, all of which seemed fairly based.
xo- Aurora
You make a lot of valid points, here, Richard. Good job.
The reports that have come out over the weekend have been very mixed, to say the least, so it will be interesting to see “official” facts emerge.
I’ve read that Cy had not been on property that night. Perhaps he was driving to the resort, but maybe he was off that night, and simply driving by… who knows. We don’t, yet, and it may make a world of difference… or maybe not! We’ll see, I guess.
Other things we don’t know: Wynn’s official policies regarding DUIs; Waits’ blood alcohol readings (was it .08 or .15, or ?); if it was his first or 5th or 26th DUI; who else was in the vehicle; if any drugs were found in the SUV… the list goes on and on. And until anyone official provides any solid answers, everything is speculation. And we have yet to hear a peep from Team Cy.
Still, I believe you made the most valid point of all: He is innocent until proven guilty. Personally, I think that firing someone before he or she is convicted of a crime, especially considering the history of success, dedication and hard work, would be hasty. But, again, I do not have the facts, and I am in no place to pass judgment. None of us are.
I think it would be interesting to see what notable Nevadans have had DUIs. Casino execs, politicians, and writers, too, what the heck. I’m not saying it’s OK to drink and drive; I’m just saying it’s far more common than many people realize. Still, those who live on-property have a certain advantage.
OK, onto Paris: It’s obvious to me that she doesn’t think this is a big deal. She seems to feel she will be cleared based upon the evidence (or lackthereof), or believes the rules do not apply to her. But remember how she cried like a child when she was arrested last year? (I think it was last year…) When reality hits her, it hits her hard. Kind of a shame, really. And, for what it’s worth, she has my respect for giving me a good interview last year—she struck me as being incredibly smart, articulate and on top of it. She wasn’t “on” and wasn’t on a red carpet. Red Carpet/public Paris is a whole different animal, in my experience… but it’s her game—she created it—so she plays it well. Most of the time, at least. Also, that video she did during the election video was pretty cute.
Further food for thought: Hilton was George Maloof’s date to the opening of the Palms. Chew on that one for a while and see how it tastes. And she’s still featured prominently on the N9NE Group website. Perhaps that will change, but maybe not. Will Michael Boychuck unfriend his most high-profile BFF? I highly doubt it.
Welcome to 2010, friends.
ColinFromVegas:
Two things:
- Why would you think Jesse would be terminated? That is simply ridiculous. He is his own person, and wasn’t involved in this incident at all.
- Richard accurately points out that Paris is frequently paid to host parties in Las Vegas, but not at Wynn specifically. The fact of the matter is that Wynn (XS/Tryst) are known for being the only ones in town who DON’T pay celebs to party on property. A regrettable exception occurred a few weeks earlier, on what seemed to be a whim (announced just a few days in advance) at XS. Previous to that, Hilton’s paid-to-party biz was, for the most part, contained to the Hard Rock Hotel and, to a lesser extent, Pure, Tao/Lavo and what once was Privé.
Cheers, gents.
M.
Thanks, Melissa. I stand corrected.
Since typing my comment, I had read that they were both let go. And since then, it has changed about two or three times.
And I thought Paris Hilton was paid for appearances. I guess there is a fine line between when she’s in a playground and having fun and when she’s working.
Again, thanks.
“Just say NO to Drugs.”
It is about Time that Hollywood Overpaid “Actresses”/Entertainers are held Accountable for their Actions like the Rest of The Population of Human Beings on this Planet.
… “America needs a GOOD MORALS ‘Revolution’”.
“VIVE LA REVOLUTION !!!”
“VIVE BEAUTIFUL AURORA SNOW !!!” (Hi Aurora! I had to throw that one in there!
).
“TRUE HAPPINESS is ‘Internal’, not ‘External’.”
Peace.
- Sincerely, Mike
Good Man
Human Being
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Northern Hemisphere, Beautiful Tough Planet Earth
We are talking about 0.8g which is not even a full gram. It should count as a misdemeanor.
She is not a Mormon and she can drink alcohol.
Hey, it’s Vegas after all, so let’s not get too judgemental.
Casinos WANT people to come and party, and Paris is a huge draw. The last time my husband and I saw her at the Bellaggio it was like New Year’s Eve there. The party crowd loves Paris.
Also, Paris has a humongous following. Her twitter is nearing 3 million fans and growing daily.
The occasional slip-ups do not seem to bother her die-hard fans. They love their American princess who has some very human traits.
NEVER underestimate Paris Hilton. I just read that her various business enterprises this year are doing half a BILLION dollars worth.
I enjoyed reading your article I do have a lot of concerns when a cop uses one excuse to pull you over and then claims there’s something else going on. If I were a judge and found that a cop said that this is what he smelled and did not find anything and then changes it says that he found this or that I would be concerned in the fact that he or she is telling the whole truth. This whole idea of just cause in the law needs to be examined. There is enough written laws for cops to enforce than to make up stuff…