PARIS HILTON: “People thought I did it on purpose.” The LIE that ruined her life...

In this podcast episode, Paris Hilton shares an intimate and candid conversation delving into her personal journey of growth, healing, and empowerment. From her experiences with ADHD and the trauma of a leaked sex tape that shattered her privacy, to her evolution as a mother, entrepreneur, and advocate, Paris opens up about overcoming adversity, reclaiming her narrative, and using her platform to inspire and protect others. The episode also touches on her contributions to legislative change, the impact of losing her home in the wildfires, and how kindness has become central to her life philosophy.

Personal Growth and Motherhood

Paris reflects on how much she has evolved since last appearing on the show two and a half years ago. She describes feeling transformed through motherhood, having two children who bring profound joy to her life. Becoming a mother has reshaped her priorities and deepened her appreciation for love and happiness. Paris also shares a sense of pride about the woman she has become, emphasizing that her current self is empowered by the journey of reflection, healing, and embracing authenticity. She speaks warmly about her family life as a source of strength and fulfillment, highlighting how motherhood connects her to a sense of innocence and wonder.

Documentary, Memoir, and Music as Healing

The conversation explores Paris's creative trilogy of healing: her documentary "This is Paris," followed by her memoir, and now her music documentary. She emphasizes how music has served as a therapeutic force in her life, calling it something that "saved" her amid trauma and pain. Returning to music allows her to revisit a childhood dream and reclaim her voice, showing audiences a deeper, more authentic side of herself beyond her earlier public image. Paris discusses the catharsis of writing about her ADHD in her song "ADHD," which has resonated with many listeners who feel empowered to embrace their differences as strengths rather than shortcomings.

Understanding and Embracing ADHD

Paris discloses her challenges with ADHD from a young age—feeling misunderstood, struggling in school, and facing stigma when little public discourse existed around the condition. She reveals how learning about ADHD later in life transformed her perspective, helping her view it as a superpower rather than a limitation. Her hyperactive creativity, curiosity, and unique ability to hyperfocus are qualities she credits for her entrepreneurial success. Paris also highlights difficulties inherent to ADHD such as rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) and emotional intensity, which compounded her hardships growing up, especially given her sensitivity and the harsh media scrutiny she endured.

Media Cruelty and Personal Trauma

A significant portion centers on the devastating impact of the leaked sex tape, which Paris calls the most painful and violating moment of her life. At just 19, she trusted someone deeply only to have her privacy destroyed and the world judge her harshly. She reflects on how this incident stole her innocence, altered public perception, and nearly derailed her music career. Paris expresses ongoing grief over the trauma and stigma, including people wrongfully believing she released the tape intentionally. Despite never fully healing, she recognizes the importance of sharing her story to support others who have endured similar exploitation and to advocate for stronger protections against such violations.

Reclaiming Narrative and Resilience

Paris discusses the complicated process of reclaiming her story and power in the public eye. She recounts how appearing on Saturday Night Live shortly after the scandal was a pivotal moment in taking control and redefining her image. Internally, however, she grappled with a persona fashioned as armor—a caricature that shielded her from deeper pain she wasn't yet ready to confront. She explains how she used humor, branding, and the "dumb blonde" stereotype as a coping mechanism during a time when mental health conversations were scarce. Now, with more self-awareness and healing, she is able to be authentic, vulnerable, and use her platform for advocacy.

Support Systems and Family Impact

Throughout her ordeal, Paris credits her family—especially her parents—with being a critical source of unconditional love and support. She highlights how their belief in her truth and steady presence helped her survive the harsh media landscape. Paris contrasts her experience with peers who lacked such support and often spiraled into loneliness or worse. She expresses gratitude for the stability her family provided and stresses the importance of creating a safe environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves openly.

Advocacy and Legislative Work

Paris shares pride in her work fighting for child protection laws and mental health awareness, including passing her first federal bill to safeguard children. She describes the years of advocacy, speaking with lawmakers, and amplifying survivor voices as healing and empowering. This activism is part of a broader mission to create systemic change beyond her personal story, aiming to protect vulnerable individuals on a national and global level. Her dedication to this cause is a testament to how her painful past fuels purposeful action.

Impact of Losing Her Home in the Wildfires

The episode also covers the emotional trauma Paris faced when her Malibu home was destroyed by wildfires earlier in the year. She recounts the shock of discovering the loss through the news and the grief tied to irreplaceable memories and possessions. Despite the devastation, Paris immediately turned her focus outward, organizing aid for displaced families, fostering animals, and raising significant funds to support recovery efforts. She emphasizes the power of community resilience and ongoing commitment to rebuilding, underscoring the interconnectedness of personal tragedy and collective support.

Reflections on Love and ADHD

Paris offers candid insights into how her ADHD influenced her past relationships, explaining that what she sometimes mistook for love was actually manifestations of hyperfocus and dopamine-driven obsession. This self-awareness sheds light on the challenges of forming lasting emotional connections when navigating ADHD's intensity and shifting attention. She shares that while this pattern exists in some areas of life, her love for her husband Carter, whom she met after much personal growth, is genuine and enduring, marking a new chapter of trust and vulnerability.

Managing ADHD and Creating Supportive Environments

Paris acknowledges the ongoing demands ADHD places on her daily life, especially balancing creativity with organization across her ventures. She credits having a supportive team, many of whom also have ADHD, for understanding her needs and helping establish systems that foster productivity. She highlights the importance of designing inclusive spaces and routines tailored to how her brain works, noting her partnership with Google to create resources that accommodate neurodiverse individuals. This intentional approach helps her sustain high performance while managing ADHD's complexities.

Lessons on Boundaries, Authenticity, and Kindness

Throughout the conversation, Paris emphasizes the transformative power of setting boundaries—particularly releasing the need to please others or strive for perfection—and embracing one's true self unapologetically. Her evolution from a guarded young woman into someone who owns her story vulnerably inspires others to do the same. She advocates leading with kindness as an essential life principle, believing that what one puts into the world returns. This philosophy extends to how she parents, prioritizing open communication and unconditional support, with kindness as an indispensable trait she hopes to instill in her children.

Reflections on Fame, Misunderstanding, and Cultural Impact

Paris reflects on the dual challenges of being misunderstood and underestimated in the public eye, noting that proving doubters wrong has fueled much of her motivation. She discusses how media narratives often distorted her identity, contrasting the shallow caricature with the complex person she is. In contrast, she cherishes the empowerment to showcase her authentic self through her new projects. Paris also acknowledges her role as a cultural pioneer, having launched multiple trends and business models ahead of their time, influencing entire industries in fashion, reality TV, and beyond.

Final Thoughts and Quickfire Insights

Ending on lighter notes, Paris shares playful insights into early 2000s fashion trends she wishes would return and those best left behind, dispelling false rumors about her past and recounting her trademark phrase's origin. She reveals a dream to revisit certain roles in future projects and notes her favorite milestones, such as her legislative successes. Closing with a powerful nugget of wisdom, Paris encourages resilience rooted in heart and kindness, reminding listeners that survival and success come from embracing vulnerability and continuously spreading love.