Word on the street is that Benji Madden and Audrina Patridge have been hookin up of late, and today the NY Daily News confirmed that Paris Hilton’s ex has “upped his friendship with Audrina to relationship status in the last two weeks’.

Although Audrina is just a lowly MTV reality show star, I’d still say this move is still a major trade-up for Benji Madden.

benji and audrina