Paris Hilton says sorry for anti-gay rant

Paris Hilton has been forced to issue a grovelling apology to the gay community after she unleashed a string of homophobic slurs, which were secretly recorded by a New York cab driver.

“I am so sorry and so upset that I caused pain to my gay friends, fans and their families with the comments heard this morning,” Hilton wrote in an apology to GLAAD.

Hilton's comments were made to her friend, a gay model in a cab, on September 7 in New York, but part of the conversation was recorded by the cab driver, then released through Radar Online.

Talking to her friend, Hilton said users of the app, Grindr, are "disgusting" and "most of them probably have AIDS."

"I would be so scared if I were a gay guy…you'll like, die of AIDS," Hilton, 31, said.

She later retracted her comments, and late yesterday issued an apology to the gay community. 

“Gay people are the strongest and most inspiring people I know,” she added.

“It is so wrong when people bully down others for being gay. No one should have to go through that. Again, I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart and I feel absolutely horrible.”