LONDON: Singer Rod Stewart decided to defend socialite Paris Hilton against criticism by saying he knows her from the time she was 14.

According to contactmusic.com, Stewart’s daughter Kimberly is a long-time friend of Hilton and they were together when Hilton was arrested for drunken driving. Stewart said, “I have to stick up for Paris because I’ve known her since she was 14. She’s been friends with Kimberly since they were even younger.” Stewart also said he didn’t mind Hilton recording a version of his song Do Ya Think I’m Sexy because he didn’t like the original. He added,

“(Hilton’s version) is pretty good, but you know that wasn’t one of my favourite songs. I force myself to play it every night. It just makes people happy.”