Paris Hilton's ready to put all the rumors to bed -- no pun intended -- about former BFF Kim Kardashian's sex tape and how it launched the reality TV star's career.

We caught up with Paris at LAX yesterday as she and boyfriend Chris Zylka returned from a DJ gig in Miami. She had her adorably pooch in her right arm and was holding her boyfriend's hand as she made her way through a sea of paparazzi who were hankering for a good quote about news that Paris was in the room with Kim K back in the day, when Kim found out her sex tape with then-boyfriend Ray J had been leaked.

One videographer asked Paris if the heiress knew her friend would skyrocket to fame because of the tape. Paris -- still the loyal friend -- says, "Why would anyone want to launch that way?"

A recent report claims Kim was distraught when she, sitting in a hotel room in Australia with Paris, found out the tape had gotten out, but that the most famous Kardashian calmed a bit when she learned porn peddler Vivid Video was offering money. And when did mom Kris come into the picture? We imagine all this got KJ's wheels spinning and her seeing dollar signs and boy did she jump on that opportunity -- and just look how far she's taken it!