Paris Hilton denies any Barton rivalry

Paris Hilton has struck out at claims that there is a rivalry between herself and The O.C. actress Mischa Barton.

Barton recently called Hilton a "silly bitch" and claimed that the rivalry, which apparently began when she began dating Hilton's best pal Kimberly Stewart's ex-fiancé Cisco Adlar and formed a close friendship with Hilton's former friend Nicole Richie, was beneath her.

In response, Hilton told the New York Daily News: "I don't even know the girl. I could care less. It seems like she's the one trying to stir up a rivalry. I've never said a word about her in my life, but she seems to be spending a lot of time thinking about me."

Mischa Barton's publicist, however, insists that the actress was "joking" when she made the comments at the BAFTA after-party on Sunday.