(Newser)
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If you’ve ever been tempted to run off to Kuwait or Saudi Arabia in an effort to avoid Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton, we’ve got some bad news for you:

• Kardashian is visiting Kuwait and Bahrain for some promotional appearances at new Millions of Milkshakes locations in the region. Yes, really. TMZ reports that while she’s there, she’s going to meet with local leaders and educate herself about the Middle East so that “she can use her celebrity to help those in need and raise awareness about important issues in the area,” says a source. What prompted this? Well, last week Kardashian apparently offended some people by tweeting that she was “praying for everyone in Israel.” She later added similar prayers for Palestine, TMZ notes.

• As for Hilton, she’s stirring up some controversy of her own with her new shop in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca. She tweeted last week that her purse and accessory collections were now for sale at the Mecca Mall, leading to quite a bit of backlash from angry Saudis, Radar reports. “Historic religious sites in Medina are being destroyed, while Paris Hilton opens a new store,” wrote one.