Celebrities, especially reality stars, are not exactly known for sticking around when one of their famous pals is stranded in a sea of negative publicity. And given the catty behavior on Laguna Beach and The Hills, many people would not have been shocked if Lauren Conrad had distanced herself from on-and-off-screen buddy Audrina Patridge after scandalous topless shots of Audrina suddenly became the most popular thing on the Internet last week.

However, when OK! caught up with LC, she had nothing but good words to say about her caught-on-camera comrade. “I feel bad for Audrina,” Lauren explained to OK!. “But she’s a strong girl and I know she’ll make it through this.”

Speaking for herself in the wake of the photos being leaked, Audrina wrote on her MySpace blog, “I intended them to be artistic and not in any way provacative. I was naive, overly trusting of people and inexperienced… I’m not ashamed of these photos, but I don’t want my young fans to think they have to do what I did.”

The pics were eventually sent to Playboy for consideration and fell into the wrong hands. (Audrina’s rep insists they were never sent to the mag.) And as for releasing them herself to drum up publicity, friends of the MTV star say it’s not possible.

Source: okmagazine.com

Lauren Conrad is speaking out on claims that she was feeling “betrayed” by her friends Audrina Patridge and Brody Jenner ? and insists, “I love them both.”

In a posting Thursday on her MySpace Celebrity blog, Conrad, 22, wrote:

Hey! I just wanted to take a moment to clear something up. I recently did an interview to talk about the show coming back on and what everyone had to look forward to. Unfortunately it was turned into yet another “poor me” story. The article itself is a nice one but it follows headlines that, in no way, represent my words or feelings. I do not feel betrayed by Audrina or Brody. I love them both and said nothing to contradict this. I understand that headlines sell magazines, but I value my friendships above magazine sales any day. On a more positive note, I got to see some of the first episode yesterday and it looks amazing. I’m sooooooo excited for everyone to see Paris. Best wishes and I hope everyone tunes in Monday.With The Hills premiering Monday night on MTV, Conrad also reveals a bit more about her family, her image and secrets behind making the show in, of all places, The Wall Street Journal.In the profile, Conrad acknowledges that she and Jenner “have an odd relationship,” but it works, because “he’s a cute guy who’s okay with filming.”

As for LC’s image, Conrad’s publicist talks openly with the newspaper about building Conrad as a fashion “brand” ? and about the need for Lauren to party responsibly when she’s hitting the hot clubs. “It’s the same conversation you’d have as a parent with a child,” said the rep. Conrad’s father Jim adds that they watch the blogs ? and if they see her appearing tipsy in a photo, “We will tell her to ratchet it back.”

Source: people.com

Audrina Patridge, 22, surfaced on the Internet, The Hills star speaks out in her own words on her MySpace Celebrity page.

“I intended them to be artistic and not in any way provocative,” Patridge writes of the photos she says were taken when she was “just out of high school.” Adding, “I was naive, overly trusting of people and inexperienced. I thought that to be a model you had to be comfortable in front of the camera.”

On Wednesday, it was revealed that Lauren Conrad’s sweet-tempered roommate once had aspirations to be a model and succumbed to influence of others. “I’m not ashamed of these photos, but I don’t want my young fans to think they have to do what I did,” Patridge says. “I hope people can learn from my inexperience.”

Source: people.com

Lauren Conrad and costar/coworker Whitney Port work another scene for their unscripted reality MTV show The Hills in West Hollywood on Thursday.

Both Lauren, 22, and Whitney, 23, were both interns at Teen Vogue and together, moved onto public relations firm, People’s Revolution.

Says PR owner Kelly Cutrone about her company, “People’s Revolution is a full service Public Relations, Branding and Marketing Firm. Our main focus is Fashion & Lifestyle with a strong emphasis on celebrity branding. We have offices in NY & LA and work internationally in markets such as London, Milan & Paris. It seems like our clients use their product as a way to express a feeling or message beyond the product itself.”

And Lauren just updated her blog to clarify some rumors: “Hey! I just wanted to take a moment to clear something up. I recently did an interview [with Us Weekly] to talk about the show coming back on and what everyone had to look forward to. Unfortunately it was turned into yet another “poor me” story. The article itself is a nice one but it follows headlines that, in no way, represent my words or feelings. I do not feel betrayed by Audrina or Brody. I love them both and said nothing to contradict this. I understand that headlines sell magazines, but I value my friendships above magazine sales any day. On a more positive note, I got to see some of the first episode yesterday and it looks amazing. I’m sooooooo excited for everyone to see Paris. Best wishes and I hope everyone tunes in Monday.”

Source: Just Jared

Granted, we had never heard some of these rumors. But The Hills‘ Audrina Patridge is nonetheless working hard to clear them up and clear her name!

Witness the following clarifications from Audrina’s MySpace:

I have been getting alot of questions about the rumors in all the celebrity gossip and trash mags and on the internet …………..

1. Lauren Conrad and I have never had plastic surgery!
2. I am not ditching Lauren for [Heidi Montag] …. if i see her out we acknowledge each other but no were not besties! it is none of my business with what is going on between them and i stay out of it! — i’m not focused on others business, i have enough of my own personal drama
3. Lauren and i still live together and are friends
4. No i never went to [Spencer Pratt’s] condo… (LOL)
5. And yes i go to OC alot to help my pregnant sister its not bc i’m sick of Lauren and she’s difficult to live with!!! …..
6. No Whitney Port is not leaving our show she is one of our main girls in show!

there are soooo many false rumors it makes us laugh!!!! ….. but thats what keeps everyone on their toes and interested!…… hope these cleared up a few things!

Source: thehollywoodgossip.com

New year, new attitude?

Under the subject “Happy New Year” on her MySpace page, The Hills star Heidi Montag implied Tuesday that she is ready to put her feud with Lauren Conrad behind her this year.

“I just hope everyone is starting 2008 with a fresh clean slate like i am…the past is the past…and it is time for people to move on from negative influences in their lives and be more positive! I know at least i am going to try as hard as possible even when people don’t deserve kindness…i am still going to give them kindness! Also people should try not to judge other people in 2008!”

She also vowed “to stay way more in-touch with my myspace [sic] friends that are so loving and supportive. I will be trying to answer all my messages this year and respond to all questions!”

She did not mention Spencer Pratt, with whom she recently called off her engagement and shared a year of high and lows.

Before signing off, she wished all her friends, “a healthy, safe, loving, amazing, blessed New Year!”

Tell Us: Should Heidi and L.C. rekindle their friendship in 2008?

Source: usmagazine.com