Heather Mills names new PR adviser after flap over interviews

Heather Mills is seen in Santa Monica, California in this April 14, 2007 file photo. Mills has promoted her U.S. spokeswoman to be her chief press adviser after her main spokesman quit because she did not take his advice in her divorce battle with estrang

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Heather Mills has promoted her U.S. spokeswoman to be her chief press adviser after her main spokesman quit because she did not take his advice in her divorce battle with estranged husband Beatle Paul McCartney.

Mills, despite spokesman Phil Hall's disapproval, went ahead with a series of embarrassing TV and newspaper interviews earlier this month that led to his departure.

The 39-year-old Mills was widely slammed for the emotional television interviews she gave in Britain, in which she said the media drove her close to suicide and wrongly portrayed her as a "whore" and a "gold-digger."

French-born Michele Elyzabeth said on Monday that she has taken over worldwide responsibilities, after acting as Mills' spokeswoman in the United States for several years.

Elyzabeth said she is good friends with Mills and does not think the negative press surrounding her client is valid.

"I don't understand what it is about people that make them hate her so much," said Elyzabeth, who sells her own brand of champagne and operates a public relations firm in Los Angeles.

"She's a decent human being that really does not deserve this kind of treatment from the press," said Elyzabeth about Mills. "She's truly a good person."

Last week, Mills parted ways with the law firm that was representing her in the bitter divorce battle with McCartney. Scrutiny of Mills' past and private life has been intense since her split with the singer was announced. The two married in 2002 and have a young daughter, Beatrice, who is four.