I always thought the Sundance film festival was supposed to be respectable. Fun, but respectable. It’s original aim was to promote independent films. Tom Cruise blockbusters not allowed. But then they let in Paris Hilton. As if they need a cootie factory wandering around Utah. I’m pretty sure a whole team of epidemiologists follows Paris around wherever she goes. There’s a task force mobilized to Park City as we speak. As if anyone needed any more reason to believe Paris Hilton is a vapid, narcissistic waste, the heirhead has been toddling around Sundance, ogling her wonky eye at every swag suite she can find. She’s unofficially there to promote her crap-ass movie, “The Hottie and the Nottie.” Which is ironic, because if you see pictures of the “nottie” Christine Lakin (of “Step by Step” fame) without her “nottie” makeup, she’s a million times more attractive than Paris Hilton. But then again so is the rat that snuck in through my radiator last night. I digress. Paris is at Sundance to unofficially promote her C-movie that no one’s heard of and no one cares about. Her very presence is pretty much a slap in Sundance’s face. Instead of going with a hint of dignity, Paris decided to slut it up. No, not by wearing a bikini in the snow. She’s slutting it up by wearing a t-shirt with her own fugly face on it.

But the heiress didn’t appear particularly interested in the independent films on offer, instead focusing on just one thing – herself. The 25-year-old paraded around the city in a hot pink t-shirt with a portrait of face emblazoned across the front. She is at the event to promote her new film The Hottie and the Nottie, despite the fact it’s not in the official Sundance line up. A night earlier, Paris did what she does best – partying – this time with rapper 50 Cent. Moments before hitting the dance floor, she screamed: “Oh my god I’m having such a good time – this is the best Sundance ever!”

While it’s clear the festival has changed significantly since Robert Redford founded it as a small event for independent films in 1978, he insists it isn’t eclipsed by presence of Hollywood socialites. Redford said: “Paris Hilton and so forth doesn’t have anything to do with anything. There’s nothing pretentious – no red carpets, no limousines allowed. And so people come and mingle together like a real community of artists.”

[From the Daily Mail]

Isn’t that generous of Mr. Redford. Implying that Paris Hilton is in some way a part of “a real community of artists.” Who was that crap artist that painted all those pictures that hang in the lobbies of suburban Sheratons? Whoever they were, Paris Hilton is the acting equivalent of that hack. Though that’s probably a bit too charitable. She’s more akin to the posters that hang in McDonalds. The ones with the plastic gold frames. Just like Paris’ sunglasses. Seriously, I love that Sundance isn’t pretentious, but do they have to let every eight-legged creature in? Because they let in about two dozen of them after they hitched a ride on Paris. Paris has a history of wearing her crooked face on her shirt. X17 has a few photos – one that even seems to highlight the wonky eye. People say she’s actually a savvy businesswoman who knows how to promote her image… I just don’t think they meant it so literally.

Picture note by Jaybird: Paris Hilton leaving the Town Lift during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival on January 20th. Images thanks to WENN.