Paris Hilton has opened up about the emotional trauma she faced following the release of her private tape in 2003, revealing how the experience left a lasting impact on her mental health and public image.
During a candid appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, the 44-year-old reality star and entrepreneur reflected on the unauthorized release of an intimate video involving her and ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon.
Paris Hilton told host Alex Cooper that she was blindsided when she first learned about the clip while on a trip to Australia with her sister, Nicky Hilton.
“I got a call from someone on my team saying that an entertainment show had received a 30-second clip,” Hilton recalled. “I didn’t believe it. I thought, ‘That has to be fake.’ I didn’t even remember making it. And then they sent it to me.”
The emotional fallout was immediate. Hilton said she was so devastated by the scandal that she canceled her press tour for The Simple Life, the reality series that helped launch her television career.
“I just didn’t want to leave my house. I was so depressed, so humiliated,” she shared. “I felt like I had let down my family—my little brothers, my sister. I carried so much shame, but looking back now as an adult, I realize that shame never should’ve been on me.”
The House of Wax actress also discussed how the incident affected her personal relationships and reputation. Hilton said she became withdrawn and was even given the nickname “Miss Blue Baller” because of her reluctance to be intimate after the ordeal.
“After that, I was just so closed off. I didn’t want to hook up with anyone. I was nervous,” she said, reflecting on how public scrutiny altered her behavior and trust in others.
Paris Hilton married entrepreneur Carter Reum in 2021. The couple now share two children—son Phoenix and daughter London—as Hilton continues to reclaim her narrative and speak out about her past with honesty and resilience.