Janet Gabriel knows this story was false. Why? Because she was there on stage with Paris when she declined. Not because she can’t sing, but because she didn’t know the song. No shame in that is there?

I wrote about this over the weekend and didn’t want to go too far with the story until I heard back from Janet Gabriel, the woman who stated she was on stage with Paris Hilton at the Club 3121 for the Prince concert in Las Vegas, April 20.

I have heard back from her and she has offered verifiable proof that not only was she there, but the story that made headlines last week about Prince inviting Paris Hilton on stage just to humiliate her were false. According to Ms. Gabriel, members of the audience were invited on stage which included Paris Hilton and Ms. Gabriel. The chosen song was “Play That Funky Music” (Wild Cherry had the hit btw) and the reason Paris didn’t sing was she didn’t know the words. A perfectly reasonable reason to decline. This doesn’t mean that Paris Hilton can sing live, but it doesn’t mean she can’t either.

I contacted Us Magazine for a comment on this story and was referred to a Mark Neschis. After asking for my credentials he stated he would call me back. I waited for about an hour and a half. I then called him back asking if Us wanted to give their side of the story. His response, “I don’t know who are,” “You haven’t give me enough time,” and “Why are you being belligerent?” To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t belligerent, but I was persistent. I tried to offer him more time, but he cut me off with, “You want a statement from Us, the statement is “No comment.”

No word on whether they plan to print a retraction of their story.

I have contacted Paris Hilton’s representation at her company Paris Hilton Entertainment, and Endeavor Agency (her talent agency) in an effort to get in contact with Elliot Mintz, Paris’ spokesperson. I was given her PR assistant email - I am waiting to hear back from them.

The story — though hardly a matter of national security — was picked up and covered by just about every celeb site out there, as well as mainstream media, including MSNBC, Blender and The Boston Globe. By the time I gave up counting the links, it was well over 100.

As I stated in my previous post, most of us found this story too good to pass up. Clearly, so did Us Magazine who originally printed it, both in their May 7th issue and on their website. The story, in their “HOT STUFF!” section is aptly titled: Paris Hilton, DISSED BY PRINCE!

Surely they new that would be a great story to cover - Paris is the celeb we love to trash. She often makes it easy with her flamboyant and unabashed nature. I am no angel in that regard, I have posted many nasty and unpleasant things with great relish on this site about Paris Hilton. But I, like most online sites, get my celeb news from the mainstream media. Their tone and their coverage set the stage for who we love and who we love to hate.

The story in Us just says “A source tells Hot Stuff that Hilton, 26, was in the audience at the Purple One’s April 20 Club 3121 gig at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas when he invited her to join him.” And that’s where the truth ends.

Here’s what soul singer Janet Gabriel, had to say about that night at the club:

“Unfortunately, I did not meet Paris Hilton anywhere apart from on Princes stage. We were mere inches apart, facing each other for a few seconds with Prince[’s] backing singer between us while I sung the first bar of the song with the mic in Shelby’s hand. She [Paris] actually appeared relieved that I got her off the hook of singing a song she didn’t know the words to and she smiled shyly, yet appreciatively at me then I turned towards Prince, then the audience to finish the song. She did not storm off in anger at all and all that stuff about Prince attempting to humiliate her was not true at all. His shows in Vegas are all about audience participation and he was only trying to recognize her presence. I heard he did the same when Gnarls Barkley singer CeLo attended a previous gig in Vegas.

Given, Paris has made a few mistakes in the past, and I do admire her ability to keep going on despite all the negative publicity for which she may be partially responsible, but it really doesn’t give anybody any excuse to keep using every opportunity to pull the poor lady down and keep her her a laughing stock. Hence I appreciate your efforts to get US Magazine to admit their mistake.”

Ms. Gabriel, a software developer, has invested all her money and efforts into a music career as a soul/jazz singer with her backing band the Neophonics. Despite being in the midst of getting ready to leave her native UK to go on tour in Nigeria, she said she couldn’t let the story stand unchallenged. She left comments on Us’ website, Glosslip and here.

As someone at the beginning of their journey into building a name for themselves as an artist, she understands all too well how the media can make or break you. I thank her for setting the record straight. Maybe Paris will too.

I published a story first seen in Us Magazine about Prince calling Paris Hilton on stage during his April 20, Las Vegas concert at the Rio Casino club 3121. As the story was printed, Prince invited Paris on stage and then reportedly said to the audience, “Let’s see if she can really sing.” Paris reportedly stormed off stage in a huff, refusing the challenge. Paris’ reps denied the story and Prince’s reps offered no comment.

Most assumed the story was true, as Us Magazineis a fairly credible celebrity news source. Well according to this rather descriptive comment left on Glosslip.com, the Prince/Paris singing dis story is a complete fabrication.

A Ms. Janet Gabriel, who states she was at the concert, offers a counter-claim to the Us Magazine article:

“As it turns out, I’m the lady from the audience who sang “Play that funky music” with Prince on Friday 20th April 2007. He had already invited a handful of people onstage to dance, Paris Hilton was one of them and so was I. Prince respectfully asked anyone to from the audience to sing that song with him and never said anything about whether Paris could sing or not. The microphone was with his backing singer, Shelby and she was the one that apparently offered the microphone to Paris. I knew the song and I in my excitement I frantically ran across the stage to seize the opportunity of a lifetime; the honour to sing with the greatest of all entertainers, Prince himself. It looked as though the problem was that Paris did not know that particular song, so I started singing the first bar of the verse of the song with the mic still in Shelbys hand. Prince then signaled Shelby to let me continue and that was it. Prince did not dis Paris and Paris did not storm off in anger. All dancers left the stage together. The whole event was great fun and awesome entertainment, nothing should be taken away from that. And I’ll never forget that moment that I shared the stage with Prince!!!!”

If this is in fact Ms. Janet Gabriel, she is also a singer and has several audio clips on her website. She also has a myspace page, but there was no mention there about the concert. I have found nothing to counter her claim of being at the concert, and I have emailed her for any additional comments on the story. Assuming this is true, it’s another example of a how we in the “citizen journalist” media take at face value what the major publications print.

We all love celeb dirt and certainly I am as guilty as anyone of pouncing on sensational stories that paint celebrities in a negative light. But I want those stories to be true, even those about Paris Hilton. It makes you wonder how many times we read a story in a major magazine, assume it’s true, make a judgment, form an opinion and then color our view of someone based on information that’s just plain false.

Do we owe Paris Hilton an apology? Maybe? But only for this, the rest, is pretty unforgivable.

Update: I continue to check out this the reliablilty of this counter-claim, and while I have no smoking gun, on Us Magazine’s site I see Ms. Gabriel left a comment there as well, and there are several other comments backing up her statement.  This isn’t Imusgate or anything, but still, makes you question how much fact-checking major magazines give to their sources.

Paris Hilton’s ability to actually sing has always been a legitmate question to ask. And who better to ask it than the legendary soulful rocker Prince? According to a story in Us Magazine, that’s what happened.

While Prince was performing in Las Vegas at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino on April 21, he invited Paris Hilton on stage to join him stage. He then said to the audience, “Let’s see if she can really sing” — according to a witness.

Hilton, who clearly can NOT sing (have we ever seen her do so outside a studio to anything other than horrific results? NO) stormed off stage, leaving the club entirely after just two songs.

Paris Hilton’s spokeliars deny the story, stating “This item is false.” Much like her eye color, hair color and personality. Prince’s rep offered no comment.

I am already a huge Prince fan, but that just puts the smooth, silky gravy on my fluffy mashed potatoes of love. Even if it’s untrue, the mere implications are joyful enough!