Paris Hilton was denied entrance into Japan yesterday, two days after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge in Las Vegas.
Japanese immigration laws bar entry to those convicted of drug offenses, although exceptions are occasionally granted.
“I’m going back home, and I look forward to coming back to Japan in the future,” a smiling Hilton said to reporters at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport.
The 29-year-old celebrity socialite was supposed to promote her fashion and fragrance lines at a news conference yesterday morning in Tokyo. She arrived on Tuesday evening, but was stopped at the airport and spent the night at a hotel there after being questioned by officials.
The move also abruptly canceled Hilton’s planned appearances in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta. Her publicist, Dawn Miller, wrote in a statement that Hilton plans to make the trips at a later date.
“Paris is very disappointed and fought hard to keep her business commitments and see her fans, but she is forced to postpone her commitments in Asia,” Miller’s statement said. “Paris understands and respects the rules and laws of the immigration authorities in Japan and fully wishes to cooperate with them.”
A Japanese immigration official said she was denied entry after a total of about six hours of questioning over two days.
Japan has taken a tough line with famous figures such as Diego Maradona and Paul McCartney in the past, although it also grants exceptions on occasion.
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