Paris Hilton is ready to reclaim her story, share ups, downs
Paris Hilton is adding her voice to the chorus of women speaking out to reclaim their narrative from the media and public.
This week she released “Paris: The Memoir,” a memoir about what it was like for Hilton to grow up — being sent to programs for troubled teens, but also facing mental and physical abuse, a leaked sex tape, a party girl image. Crafting and high-pitched voice and co-starring in a reality show, “The Simple Life”, with Nicole Richie.
In 2020, Hilton released “This Is Paris”, a YouTube documentary addressing her experiences at the schools. Hilton said, “It was the first time I got really vulnerable and real and shared my story and what I’d been through.”
Today, Hilton is involved in advocacy work and has welcomed a son with husband Carter Remm.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Hilton talks about speaking up, slowing down, and what it’s like to be called a socialite.
Answers may be edited for brevity and clarity.
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AP: You’re one of the few women who has taken control of her own story in recent years. Was there anyone who inspired you to do this or consider doing this?
Hilton: I was at the premiere of Demi Lovato’s documentary a few years ago, and I was so moved by her honesty and her vulnerability and talking about such personal moments in her life. It really just inspired me to feel freer, to be open and to be more honest about what I was doing, because especially in Hollywood, that can be very hard, especially on your mental health. . A lot of people go through things, and we all try to present this perfect life, but life isn’t perfect.
AP: If you could figure out how this book would be received, what would it look like?
Hilton: I’ve been misunderstood and underestimated for so long, and there’s more to me than what people think. It all really started with my documentary ‘This Is Paris’. It was the first time I got really vulnerable and real and shared my story and what I’d been through.
AP: The public knows a lot about your ups and downs, but you shared things like sexual assault and abortion in your book. was it difficult?
Hilton: A lot of the things that I put into the book were very hard to write about, a lot of the memories that I tried not to think about for so many years. But I think it was important to include them because it’s part of my story. I just know there are a lot of women out there who need to hear that story too.
AP: Despite your many hats—including being an entrepreneur, a DJ, 30 fragrances and a billion-dollar business—you still get labeled as a socialite. Does that bother you?
Hilton: I don’t really enjoy the word socialite because I think that’s all I can do, but I think people are starting to recognize and see me as a businesswoman now.
AP: How is your advocacy going against programs that allegedly reform so-called bad kids?
Hilton: In the last two years, we’ve made a huge impact, and I’ve already changed laws in eight states and Ireland. I’m going back to Washington, DC in April to introduce a new bill and we already have bipartisan support. So, I’m just praying that everyone does the right thing because over 150,000 children are being sent to these facilities every year. This is a billion dollar industry… I will not stop fighting until change is made.
AP: You write that it hasn’t been easy for you to communicate with your parents about what happened. Have you actually been able to discuss this with them?
Hilton: My family and I have never been close, and they had no idea what was going on behind closed doors in these places. They have deceptive marketing. My parents thought I was going to a normal boarding school, and all the brochures have these pictures of kids smiling with rainbows and riding horses. I completely understand now, especially as an adult, everything. My parents and I have talked about everything, and it’s been great for us. My mom is coming to Washington, DC with me, and is there to support me.
AP: You’re a new mom! (Hilton’s son, Phoenix Barron Hilton Rem, was born via surrogate.) Are you dialing it back on all your travel and business responsibilities?
Hilton: I’m not going to say a lot because I want to be there every moment, so I’m trying to do as much as possible from home, having my podcasting studio in there, my recording studio for my music, a Photo studio for photoshoot. I try to work from home as much as possible so I can pop in and out of her room because I’m so obsessed with my little one.
AP: You also write in your book about how you have ADHD and your husband did research on it when you were dating to better understand it.
Hilton: He’s just so supportive. And he talks to my ADHD doctor and he’s really done a lot of research. He basically knows more about it than me and is teaching me these things every day. So it’s been really great.
AP: Even sharing that you have ADHD will help people feel seen.
Hilton: When people can use it in the right way, it really can become a superpower. So I think in my career I have always been ahead of my time and taken risks and been an innovator and thought outside the box. I really attribute it to my ADHD. People should watch the movie ‘The Disruptors’ to understand more.
AP: Last question. In your book you share that you have five cellphones. One is devoted to prank phone calls. Do you have them today?
Hilton: Yes. I have only some of them here. (Hilton has three phones.) I love making prank phone calls with my mom.
