Palin At Oscar Gift Suite: LAT Updates Story
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UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times updated its original item and debunked several online reports about Sarah Palin's behavior at the Oscar gifting suite:
As in, oh no, Palin and company didn't do all those "grabby 'n' whiny" things that were reported by an entertainment gossip site Wednesday evening and spread like wildfire online Thursday and into Friday.
"The stories currently circulating about Governor Palin's attendance at our event are total fabrications," partner Melissa Lemer said in a statement from Silver Spoon (read it here). [Updated at 11:11 a.m.: Lemer has confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that she issued the statement.]
EARLIER: Sarah Palin aligns her public image with the heartland, but it appears the former Alaska Governor has gone Hollywood. And when she leaves, she may be taking some of it with her.
On top of an appearance on the Tonight Show and rumors that she's shopping around a TV show with reality producer Mark Burnett, Palin and her entourage were seen partaking in one of celebrity's lushest rituals -- the Oscar gifting suite.
While the group was loading up on freebies, the Los Angeles Times reported that, "Palin's middle child, Willow, got her hair styled, receiving a blowout from Erick Orellana of the Chris McMillan Salon (Jennifer Aniston's longtime hairstylist)."
The Times also indicated that Palin was supposed to donate $1,700 along with all of her gift items to the Red Cross, which is currently helping with relief efforts in Haiti and Chile.
But E! Online insists, "we can assure you she did not give up any of her swag." They quote an unnamed vendor who claims that upwards of 20 people from the Palin camp swarmed the event. "They were like locusts," he told the entertainment news outlet.
According to AOL's Pop Eater, publicist Ben Russo of EMC/Bowery said, "she kind of cleaned the place out." They list out a number of her swag-grabs, including United Hair Care products, jewels from Pascal Mouawad, Skagen watches and a whopping 40 pairs of AIAIAI earphones.
It didn't stop there. HollywoodLife.com reports that she also picked up a blue Kenya robe from designer Jenna Leigh, facewash and a pair of foam Bandal sandals.
Or, in common-sense language, Palin and her handlers, "practically cleaned out the suite."
Another unnamed source, from HollywoodLife.com, says that the former Vice Presidential candidate was intent on spreading all that wealth around her own circle. "She insisted every person in her huge entourage get something, and there were assistants, nannies, security - insanity!" The same source also said that security swept the venue and would not allow photos, which are often expected by companies to use as promotion in exchange for the free products.
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Huffington Post Adam J. Rose First Posted: 05/03/10 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 04:45 PM ET