Kathy Hilton has broken her silence after she was slammed for applying lipstick on-stage during Mariska Hargitay's emotional acceptance speech at the 2022 People's Choice Awards on Tuesday.
The RHOBH star, 63, was branded 'classless' as she began applying make-up as Hargitay accepted the Drama TV Star of 2022 gong - but revealed the incident unfolded because she was about to sneeze and looking for a tissue.
She told Extra: 'I actually thought I was going to sneeze and you don’t want to hear me sneeze, it’s the loudest sneeze.
'I was looking for a tissue, I didn’t have a tissue or a hanky, so I got nervous and just put some lipstick on and it was during her speech so I thought the camera isn’t going to be focused on me.'
Big mistake: Kathy Hilton has broken her silence after she was slammed for applying lipstick on-stage during Mariska Hargitay's emotional acceptance speech at the 2022 People's Choice Awards on Tuesday
The star said she had reached out to Hargitay personally via DM, and apologized for her actions.
She said 'I adore and I respect Mariska very much, I already reached out to her, DMed her, I want to get her address, I feel terrible.
Looking at the camera, Kathy said: 'I apologize, Mariska, I am really sorry… I look forward to talking to you.
Alluding to the drama with her RHOBH co-stars, she said: 'I would never do anything to be rude intentionally and I’m really sorry, it was my first time being back on the stage with some of the girls too.'
I'm sorry: She told Extra : 'I actually thought I was going to sneeze and you don’t want to hear me sneeze, it’s the loudest sneeze'
The star said she had mended her relationship with Lisa Rinna, who she previously slammed as a 'bully', saying: 'We sat next to each other, talked, I was fine.'
'It was great to see Kyle. I think that hopefully we will reunite during the holidays at some point.'
Kathy would not be drawn on whether she would return to the show, saying: 'First, you have to be asked… If that happens, I think so.'
The apology comes three days after Hilton faced a wave of social media backlash over the incident.
Hargitay's impassioned speech called for 'kindness, compassion and courage' and for people to 'build a bridge between our differences and our divides' - but all eyes swiftly went to Hilton who was seen rummaging in her designer bag and sighing.
What happened: 'I was looking for a tissue, I didn’t have a tissue or a hanky, so I got nervous and just put some lipstick on and it was during her speech so I thought the camera isn’t going to be focused on me'
Apology: The star said she had reached out to Hargitay personally via DM, and apologized for her actions
Interview: Looking at the camera, Kathy said: 'I apologize, Mariska, I am really sorry… I look forward to talking to you
The star - whose attention did not appear to be on the speech - smacked her lips before applying a glossy pink lipstick and pouting.
She was then seen wiping her mouth as Hargitay wrapped up her speech.
Fans quickly took to social media to criticize the star for her touch -up with one writing: 'Did @KathyHilton forget she was standing on stage on live tv.. her lipstick had to be touched up! How true entitlement ones act!
Another typed: 'How extraordinarily rude @KathyHilton . I cannot believe I (and every other viewer) just watched you apply lipstick, blot at it and SIGH in the middle of Mariska Hargitay’s @peopleschoice award acceptance speech. Doesn’t get any more self-absorbed than that. Shame on you.
A third penned: 'Kathy Hilton took her purse up on stage to present an award, and put on lip gloss while on stage! She is oblivious to the etiquette of regular people. So entitled!!!
Applied: Hargitay's impassioned speech called for 'kindness, compassion and courage' and for people to 'build a bridge between our differences and our divides' - but all eyes swiftly went to Hilton who was seen rummaging in her designer bag and sighing
Another wrote: 'Watching that made me sick - who does that to someone… the Kathy Hilton we’ve been saying exists: Rich, Rude, Ridiculous. She is the epitome of ‘I’m rich - everyone else is beneath me’.'
One fan wrote: 'Kathy Hilton, you did not just whip your clutch out and apply lipstick in the middle of Mariska Hargitay's acceptance speech!!! This had to be a dare...if not you just proved how classless you are! Gross.'
Another typed: 'So I’m flipping tv channel & catch #RHOBH HW’s presenting an award. Standing behind Mariska during her acceptance speech, Kathy Hilton is busy flashing her designer bag to the world, looking bored & even applying lipstick. Distracting & rudely disappointing KH. '
The backlash continued with others fans writing: 'Kathy Hilton on live tv audibly huffing while clutching her purse and applying lipstick during someone’s emotional speech like'.
Another wrote: 'Why is Kathy Hilton putting on lipstick during someone’s acceptance speech knowing damn well she’s on camera…' with another typing: 'Kathy Hilton putting on lipstick while someone gives an emotional acceptance speech is disrespectful.
Wow; The star - whose attention did not appear to be on the speech - smacked her lips before applying a glossy pink lipstick and pouting
'Classless': Fans quickly took to social media to criticize the star for her touch-up
Some followers came out in support of the star, with one writing: 'Kathy Hilton putting on lipstick on stage while listening to an acceptance speech is exactly why I love her. I know it seemed rude, but I admire her "I don't give an F" attitude sorry!
Kathy was at the epicenter of the evening's drama as she reunited with her co-stars Dorit Kemsley, Lisa Rinna, Kyle Richards, Erika Jayne , Crystal Kung Minkoff and Sutton Stracke after the show paused production.
The entire cast also took part in a Family Feud sketch with host Kenan Thompson portraying Steve Harvey, which comes just weeks after it was revealed the show will take a 'break' from filming... and months after Hilton issued an 'ultimatum' to Bravo, claiming she would not return if Erika Jayne and Lisa Rinna were back.
The seven Housewives were split into two teams - Rinna, Minkoff, Jayne and Kemsley versus Hilton, Stracke and Richards.
The sketch opened with Thompson as Harvey asking the contestants, 'What is something you shouldn't do at a party?'
Praise: Some followers came out in support of the star on Twitter
The ladies all gave very specific answers which they all did on the show, with Richards answering, 'Drink too much tequila and do the splits?'
Stracke answered, 'I'm going to go with not wearing the same hot pink Dior suit as your friend?'
Hilton answered, 'Do not show up early and don't not drink my Casa Del Sol tequila,' which wasn't on the board, unlike the other two very specific answers.
The other team was given a chance to steal and they continued with their very specific answers, with Rinna stating, 'Don't ever go after my husband Harry Hamlin!'
Minkoff added, 'Insult my leather pants,' while Jayne said, 'Don't they drink, pass out and get a sunburn on a luxury yacht.'
Kemsley concluded with, 'Well, completely disrupt the charity event by fighting loudly across the table while Melissa Etheridge hides backstage,' which was the number one answer as the sketch comes to an end.
United: Just weeks after it was revealed Bravo's Real Housewives of Beverly Hills has paused production, the cast put on a united front at the 2022 People's Choice Awards
Pose: The stars posed up backstage at the event
While the ladies seemed to be having a good time at the awards show, their appearance comes after a controversial season, which ended with a reunion special where Jayne accused Hilton of using a homophobic slur during the cast's trip to Aspen.
Hilton revealed in an October interview with TMZ that, 'I would only be willing to come back if the cast... if it was completely the same, absolutely not,' while calling Jayne and Rinna, 'bullies who would throw anyone under the bus.'
Then last month, Andy Cohen said in an interview, 'Beverly Hills, we're taking a minute break, and then we'll be back shooting with them in the new year.'
He didn't indicate if there would be any casting changes, but given all seven cast members appearing at the People's Choice Awards, it seems the cast may stay the same, despite any previous 'ultimatums.'
Bravo has not yet confirmed when Season 13 of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills may debut on the network.
