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Paris Hilton's publicist is trying to do damage control after audio of the heiress making derogatory comments about gay people was posted online.

While riding in a New York City cab last week, Hilton and an openly gay friend were talking about the smart phone app Grindr, which allows gay men to meet and hook up.

"Ew, ew," Hilton says, when told about Grindr. "Gay guys are the horniest people in the world," she continues. "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."

The cab driver recorded the conversation, which RadarOnline obtained and posted today.

Hilton's publicist attempted to clarify the former reality TV star's comments, telling ABCNews.com that she was trying to "express that it is dangerous for anyone to have unprotected sex that could lead to a life-threatening disease."

The rep added, "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."

It's not the first time Hilton's team has attempted to legitimize her behavior. In 2010, her publicist went to great lengths to clarify that Hilton didn't do a Nazi salute while partying on a yacht in the South of France, though Hilton's pose and military accessories suggested otherwise. The rep claimed Hilton was merely dancing and scratching her face.