EYES WIDE SHUT Perez (Photo: Getty Images)
As we head full force into 2008, it should be known that Perez Hilton is holding fast to his delusions of yesteryear. At a New Year's eve party Perez hosted with dirt-'stached Kid Rock at the Hotel Gansevoort in Manhattan Monday night, Radar caught up with the blogger and asked him about his claims that Cuban leader Fidel Castro had in fact died back in August. In light of the fact that this is almost certainly not true, Hilton still maintains his suspicions. Is there still hope for his conspiracy dreams? Or did Perez, like most everyone else before him (Radar certainly included), simply make a mistake? He's not saying for sure ...

Any regret about your Fidel Castro death claims?
"I was certain that it was true. Call me a conspiracy theorist but I'm not 100 percent sure now that he's alive."

And who made you believe these claims to be true?
"Government sources."

Why do you have government sources?
"Well, because I am me."

Intriguing!

But surely just being you and being Cuban isn't really enough to have government sources that tell you for certain that Fidel Castro is dead.
"Well, no. But I know people who are very, like, in the know. Ask me another question."

You sent a lot of media outlets scrambling for verification.
"I was 100 percent certain that I was right at the time. I did what I did seriously. You know, but at the same time the New York Times makes mistakes daily and I'm doing it all by myself. So my track record has me so I am right almost always. So I made a mistake. It happens."

Fair enough.
"You're making it seem now Iike a scary thing. Now I'm going to get scared. I thought he was dead."

Do you still have family in Cuba?
"Distant relatives."

Were they the ones who told you?
"No. I can't tell you who told me. It's government sources. I have friends in Miami who have friends in high places. Very high places, very high. Well, notice how we have not seen him in public. It's only been videotape bullshit and every time I've seen the videotape, he is wearing the same outfit. Don't you find that little bit suspicious? I'm like, 'Queen, change your clothes!' And walk around in public with the AP there."

What about his brother, Raul?
"He's going to be dead in fucking three years any way. He's almost as old as Fidel."

Who's going to take the reins when Fidel is actually gone then?
"Gloria Estefan."