Paris Hilton’s publicist has dismissed reports that the beauty was giving a Nazi salute while partying aboard a luxury yacht in St Tropez, France. The hotel heiress is seen wearing a military-style hat, holding her finger under her nose and pointing her hand upward in a Heil Hitler-like salute in the photograph.

The 29-year-old came under fire from fans shortly after the picture emerged online, but her spokesman has adamantly denied that the Simple Life star was simulating a salute, explaining that the photo was merely taken out of context.

"Paris was dancing and having fun with her arm up in the air as she always dances like that and was scratching [her] face when a photo was taken," the New York Daily News quoted Hilton''s rep as telling the Daily Mail.

"The hat was not a Communist hat, it''s a military style hat from a club. Half of her family is Jewish and many of her friends are as well," Hilton''s rep added.