Paris Hilton has admitted that it was ‘traumatic and painful’ for her to discuss the horrific abuse that she faced at school with her mom, Kathy, but says the mother-daughter pair have since ‘healed’ by going to therapy together.
The reality star, 40, first opened up about the physical and psychological abuse that she endured while at boarding school in her 2020 YouTube documentary, This is Paris.
She attended Provo Canyon School in Utah for 11 months when she was 17 years old, and later accused the staff of ‘screaming in her face’ and ‘bullying her.’
She claimed that she faced ‘continuous torture’ at the school, and alleged that the employees would ‘hit and strangle’ the students.
Now, she has explained how those shocking admissions affected her relationship with her mom – who was unaware of the abuse before the documentary came out.
Paris Hilton admitted that it was ‘traumatic’ for her to discuss the horrific abuse that she faced at school with her mom, Kathy, but revealed they have ‘healed’ by going to therapy together
Speaking out: Paris first opened up about the physical and psychological abuse she endured while at school in her 2020 documentary, This is Paris. She is pictured during the documentary
She attended Provo Canyon School in Utah for 11 months when she was 17, and later accused the staff of ‘screaming in her face’ and ‘bullying her.’ She is pictured at age 12
Paris (pictured last year while protesting the school) claimed that she faced ‘continuous torture’ at the school, and alleged that the employees would ‘hit and strangle’ the students
She said that although it was hard for them to speak about it at first, it made their relationship stronger in the end – and lifted a major weight off of her shoulders.
‘It was definitely hard to talk to my mom about everything that I went through, because it felt traumatic and painful to speak about. So, we had never talked about it,’ she told The Post in a recent interview.
Last year, Paris dropped a brand new Peacock docuseries, called Paris in Love, which captured her and her husband, Carter Reum, 40, as they prepared to tie the knot.
And according to the former Simple Life star, she and her mom began getting therapy together during the taping of the show.
‘During the show was when we started going to therapy together. I know that she had no idea what was happening, just like every other parent who sends their children to these types of schools,’ she explained.
‘It was really healing for both of us to finally talk about that, and lift that weight off my shoulders before I got married and moved on to the next phase of my life.
‘What I went through affected my entire life and the way that I am. Now, I’ve learned to trust and open up my heart.
‘Letting someone in, with Carter, has been the most incredible experience of my life. I’ve never felt happier.
Now, she has explained how those shocking admissions effected her relationship with her mom – who was unaware of the abuse before the documentary came out
Stronger: She said that although it was hard for them to speak about it at first, it made their relationship stronger in the end – and lifted a major weight off of her shoulders
Paris said she ‘finally knows who she is’ now – thanks to the documentary, which taught her so much about herself.
‘After my [2020 documentary This is Paris] I learned so much about myself and started talking about all of the traumatic experiences I’ve been through,’ she continued.
‘It’s just been such a healing experience. I finally know who I am. I had an amazing time shooting the show [Paris In Love] with my mom, and spending time with her and my sister.’
In her 2020 documentary, the now-40-year-old alleged that staff members at Provo Canyon would attempt to ‘break her down’ by making her ‘feel bad about herself.’
She recalled: ‘From the moment I woke up until I went to bed, it was all day screaming in my face, yelling at me, continuous torture.
‘The staff would say terrible things. They were constantly making me feel bad about myself and bully me. I think it was their goal to break us down.
‘And they were physically abusive, hitting and strangling us. They wanted to instill fear in the kids so we’d be too scared to disobey them.’
Paris said she was even placed in solitary confinement for up to 20 hours a day.
‘I was having panic attacks and crying every single day. I was just so miserable. I felt like a prisoner and I hated life,’ she continued.
Paris previously alleged that staff members at the school would attempt to ‘break her down’ by making her ‘feel bad about herself.’ She is pictured speaking about the abuse in 2020
Paris said she would have ‘panic attacks and cry ever single day,’ and that she ‘felt like a prisoner and hated life.’ She is pictured speaking about it in her 2020 documentary
At the time, she said she never told her parents because they were ‘cut off from the outside world.’ She is seen in April 2021, while advocating for a new law against teen-abuse
‘I buried my truth for so long. But I’m proud of the strong woman I’ve become,’ she told People Magazine right after the documentary came out.
‘People might assume everything in my life came easy to me, but I want to show the world who I truly am.’
At the time, the socialite and businesswomen revealed why she never told her parents about the abuse, explaining, ‘I didn’t really get to speak to my family, maybe once every two or three months.
‘We were cut off from the outside world. And when I tried to tell them once, I got in so much trouble I was scared to say it again.
‘They would grab the phone or rip up letters I wrote telling me, “No one is going to believe you.”
‘And the staff would tell the parents that the kids were lying. So my parents had no idea what was going on.’
Three of Paris’ former classmates from Provo Canyon also appeared in the documentary, making similar allegations – including the use of restraints and being force-fed medication.
After the model left, she recalled: ‘I was so grateful to be out of there, I didn’t even want to bring it up again. It was just something I was ashamed of and I didn’t want to speak of it.’
Earlier this month, Kathy opened up about her initial reaction to hearing about Paris’ abuse while chatting with Andy Cohen via Zoom, and she admitted that it took her a long time to be able to watch the documentary.
Heartbreaking: Earlier this month, Kathy opened up about her initial reaction to hearing about Paris’ abuse while chatting with Andy Cohen via Zoom. She is pictured during the interview
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum admitted it was hard for her to watch the documentary, but explained that when she finally did watch, she felt Paris’ ‘relief’ immediately
‘It put me in such a depression,’ Kathy said. ‘It really was so devastating, for her to keep that in for 20 years.’
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum explained that when she finally did watch it, she felt Paris’ ‘relief’ immediately.
‘We held hands for an hour watching this thing, and just the energy that I was feeling from her and how relieved and happy that she was that I was watching,’ she shared.
She told the talk show host that she only sent Paris to the boarding school so that her daughter would stop sneaking off to clubs in the middle of the night.
‘A lot of people understood that [me and my husband, Rick Hilton, were] trying to help our daughter. We were trying to save Paris. I’m not that strict … we were worried,’ she explained.
‘She was living in New York. She was sneaking out and sometimes didn’t come back home for three days, not going to school.
‘So we put her in this boarding school, in this one, in this one. Gotta keep her away from the city and all these predators and people that wanted her to model.’
After Paris – who is pictured protesting the school in 2021 – made her allegations, Provo Canyon responded in a statement and said they ‘do not condone or promote any form of abuse’
The school (pictured) said it is ‘committed to providing high-quality care to youth with special, and often complex, emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric needs’
After Paris – who testified against the school in court in February 2021 – initially made her allegations, Provo Canyon responded in a statement.
‘Originally opened in 1971, Provo Canyon School was sold by its previous ownership in August 2000,’ it wrote.
‘We therefore cannot comment on the operations or patient experience prior to this time.’
In a second statement, it later added, ‘We do not condone or promote any form of abuse.
‘Any and all alleged/suspected abuse is reported immediately to our state regulatory authorities, law enforcement and Child Protective Services, as required.
‘We are committed to providing high-quality care to youth with special, and often complex, emotional, behavioral, and psychiatric needs.’
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