Paris Hilton, a well-known socialite and businesswoman, shared personal stories about her time in the foster care system during a House committee session on Wednesday. Her emotional but powerful testimony was aimed at persuading Congress to improve the lives of children in foster care. Hilton described the abuse she allegedly suffered at a Utah boarding school for troubled teens, which included sexual assault, physical restraint and forced medication.
Paris Hilton recalls child abuse during testimony to Congress
“When I was 16, I was taken from my bed in the middle of the night and driven across state borders to the first of four youth residential treatment facilities.”Paris Hilton, a household name renowned for her outspokenness, abandoned her usual glitz and charm for a raw and emotional testimony on Capitol Hill.
ALSO READ: Bill Gates’ daughter Phoebe confirms romance with Beatles member’s grandson: See photos
“These programs promised healing, growth, and support, but instead I was not allowed to speak, move around freely, or even look out the window for two years,” Hilton, never one to back down from a challenge, courageously shared of the disturbing period of her youth at Provo Canyon School. Her voice shook as she detailed the alleged abuse — “physical restraint, forced medication, and even sexual assault,” at the hands of the very staff entrusted with her well-being.
Paris Hilton opens up about sexual abuse at Utah school
“I was force-fed drugs and sexually abused by staff. I was violently restrained and dragged down hallways, stripped naked, and put into solitary confinement,” the star wrote, issuing a stark warning of the horrific reality experienced by many children in the U.S. foster care system, and calling on Congress to intervene.
Also Read: Elon Musk and Neuralink’s Shivon Zilis secretly welcome third child: Report
However, the Hilton heiress does not blame her parents, Rick Hilton and Kathy Hilton, for sending her to the ‘troubled teen’ school, but instead explains that she was “duped” and “tricked.” Over the past few years, the 43-year-old socialite has frequently advocated and testified forcefully in state legislatures and on Capitol Hill in support of legislation designed to protect children from this ‘inhumane money-making industry.’
Paris Hilton’s voice for reform isn’t new. In 2020, her documentary “This Is Paris” on YouTube exposed the alleged abuse she suffered at Provo Canyon School. It wasn’t just her story of her own experiences; she also led protests to shut down the school. Now, the mother of two young children (son Phoenix and daughter London), Hilton has continued her advocacy, urging Congress to address the needs of foster and adopted youth who are often overlooked.
According to PageSix, several other former students of the school backed up Hilton’s claims, calling the treatment of these children “criminal.” Hilton added, “This has left me with severe post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma that will impact me for the rest of my life.”
