Paris Hilton has opened up about her 2004 sex tape scandal, describing the experience as "traumatizing".
The 39-year-old socialite, businesswoman, and TV personality revealed in an interview with the New York Times that the tape - which was made with her then-boyfriend Rick Samolon back in 2001 - was a "private moment", and was never intended to be seen by audiences.
Speaking to the outlet, Hilton said: "To have that come out. Such a private moment, and for the whole world to be watching it and laughing like it’s some sort of entertainment, was just traumatizing."
The private movie - marketed as '1 Night In Paris' - was originally released by Red Light District Video, and went on to win the AVN Awards in 2005 for Best Selling Title of the Year, Best Renting Title of the Year and Best Overall Marketing Campaign (Individual Project).
The purpose behind the interview was to promote Hilton's upcoming documentary, This Is Paris, which is set to be released on YouTube tomorrow.
Check out the trailer for This Is Paris below:At the heart of the documentary, Hilton opens up about the abuse she suffered at Provo Canyon School - a psychiatric residential treatment center in Utah, where she resided for 11 months.
Speaking to the Times, Hilton explained that her parents "just assumed it was like a normal boarding school" because that's the way is was portrayed to parents.
However, during her first night at the school, Hilton says she was "taken from her bed as if she was being kidnapped."
She also claims to have been placed in solitary confinement for up to 20 hours at a time, sometimes without clothes.
Explaining that attending the school was "like living in hell", Hilton alleges emotional, verbal, and physical abuse from teachers and administrators, the Times reports.
In an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the socialite added that her infamous sex tape would have never happened if she hadn't been so "lost" as a result of the abuse she endured at the residential school.
Paris spent her last pre-pandemic birthday soaking up the sun:"That would never have happened if I hadn't gone to that school," Hilton said. "When I got out of that school, I was so lost. And then I ended up meeting the person who did that [Rick Samolon]."
"I never would have let someone like that in my life if I hadn't gone through such experiences," Hilton said.
"And therefore, I would have never put myself in that situation. But I just wanted love so bad. I didn't really know. I was so naïve. And I trusted the wrong person. And that's something I'll regret for the rest of my life."
In response to Hilton's claims, the school has stated on its website that ownership of Provo changed in 2000 - after Pairs was a student. In addition, a representative from the school has said the institution does "not condone or promote any form of abuse". '
Elsewhere in her interview with the NY Times, Hilton praised her former stylist Kim Kardashian, saying: "Kim and I have been friends since we were little girls and have traveled the world together.
"I could not be more proud of everything she has accomplished."
