(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Paris Hilton has sparked outrage after claiming gay men are "disgusting" and "probably have AIDS".

The hotel heiress apparently made the comments during a cab ride in New York City on September 7. Paris' team have accused the cab driver of secretly recording her conversation with a gay friend.

During their chat, a man is heard discussing Grindr a popular website often used by homosexual men to find partners.

Paris is then heard saying: "Gay guys are the horniest people in the world ... they're disgusting. Dude, most of them probably have AIDS

"I would be so scared if I was a gay guy ... you'll like die of AIDS."

A spokesperson for the 31-year-old star insists she is not a homophobe, and was merely condemning unsafe sex.

"Paris Hilton's comments were to express that it is dangerous for anyone to have unprotected sex that could lead to a life threatening disease," the representative told RadarOnline.com.

"The conversation became heated, after a close gay friend told her in a cab ride, a story about a gay man who has AIDS and is knowingly having unprotected sex. He also discussed a website that encourages random sex by gay men with strangers

"It was not her intent to make any derogatory comments about all gays. Paris Hilton is a huge supporter of the gay community and would never purposefully make any negative statements about anyone's sexual orientation." (C) Cover Media