Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Paris Hilton

Public opinion and media debates around Paris Hilton—discover key moments of controversy.

Paris Hilton is an American media personality, businesswoman, and socialite, famous as the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels. She gained prominence in the late 1990s in New York's social scene, becoming an 'It Girl.' Her global fame soared with the reality TV show *The Simple Life* (2003-2007), co-starring Nicole Richie, and the controversial release of her 2003 sex tape as *1 Night in Paris* (2004). Hilton has since leveraged her fame into various business ventures.

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Full Timeline Controversies & Scandals

December 2003: The Simple Life premiere and rise to global fame

Shortly after the December 2003 premiere of The Simple Life, the scandal involving Paris Hilton's sex tape catapulted her into global fame and intense media scrutiny.

2003: Criticism in The New York Times

In 2003, John Leland of The New York Times commented on Paris Hilton's rise, noting the devaluation of celebrity culture.

2003: Sex tape leaked

In 2003, a sex tape featuring Paris Hilton and then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked onto the Internet shortly before the premiere of The Simple Life, leading to legal disputes.

April 2004: "1 Night in Paris" distributed by Salomon

In April 2004, Rick Salomon began distributing the sex tape himself under the title 1 Night in Paris through the adult film company Red Light District Video.

July 2004: Lawsuit dropped and settlement reached regarding sex tape

In July 2004, Rick Salomon dropped his lawsuit against the Hilton family, and an agreement was reached where Salomon and Red Light District Video would pay Hilton US$400,000 plus a percentage of the tape's sale profit.

2004: Sex Tape Release

In 2004, a 2003 sex tape with her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was released as "1 Night in Paris", catapulting her to global fame and causing controversy.

September 7, 2006: Arrested for driving under the influence

On September 7, 2006, Paris Hilton was arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol content of 0.08%.

November 2006: Driver's license suspended

In November 2006, Paris Hilton's driver's license was suspended due to her DUI arrest.

2006: Forbes Celebrity 100 Inclusion and Overexposed Celebrity

In 2006, Forbes included Paris Hilton in its Celebrity 100 and ranked her as the most "overexposed" celebrity.

2006: Banksy's album rework

In 2006, Paris Hilton became a target of the street artist Banksy, when 500 copies of her album in 48 record shops across the United Kingdom were replaced with his own alternative version.

2006: Second-Worst Celebrity Role Model and Overexposed

In 2006, Paris Hilton was considered the second-worst celebrity role model and was ranked as the most "overexposed" celebrity by Forbes.

January 22, 2007: Pleaded no contest to reckless driving

On January 22, 2007, Paris Hilton pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge stemming from her DUI arrest. Her sentence included 36 months' probation and fines.

February 19, 2007: Associated Press reporting ban

The Associated Press attempted to not mention Paris Hilton for the week of February 19, 2007, in response to media over-saturation.

February 27, 2007: Stopped for driving with a suspended license

On February 27, 2007, Paris Hilton was stopped for driving with a suspended license, and she signed an agreement that she was not permitted to drive.

May 4, 2007: Sentenced to jail for probation violation

On May 4, 2007, Paris Hilton was sentenced by Judge Michael T. Sauer to 45 days in jail for violating her probation.

June 7, 2007: Resentenced to Home Confinement

On June 7, 2007, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca resentenced Paris Hilton to 40 days of home confinement due to an unspecified medical condition, but this was later overturned.

June 2007: Gallup poll on unsympathetic views

According to a June 2007 Gallup poll, nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) felt very unsympathetic toward Paris Hilton.

June 26, 2007: Mika Brzezinski refuses to report on Hilton's release

On the June 26, 2007, broadcast of Morning Joe, Mika Brzezinski refused to read a report about Paris Hilton's release from jail, reflecting the media's over-saturation.

June 29, 2007: Us Weekly Paris-Free issue

Us Weekly published its first "100% Paris-Free" issue on June 29, 2007, as a response to the media's over-saturation with Paris Hilton.

September 6, 2007: Lawsuit against Hallmark Cards Inc.

On September 6, 2007, Paris Hilton filed a lawsuit against Hallmark Cards Inc. for using her image and catchphrase "That's hot" on a greeting card without permission.

November 2007: Ranked among unfriendly celebrities

In November 2007, an online survey of children conducted by E-Poll Market Research ranked Paris Hilton among the most unfriendly celebrities.

August 2008: Lawsuit over Pledge This! Promotion

In August 2008, Worldwide Entertainment Group sued Paris Hilton for allegedly failing to promote the film "Pledge This!", despite receiving a US$1 million fee.

2008: Overexposed ranking

Despite the reporting ban, Forbes ranked Paris Hilton as the most overexposed celebrity for a second time in 2008.

2008: Most overexposed celebrity (Forbes)

In 2008, Forbes ranked Paris Hilton as the most "overexposed" celebrity, noting that 65% of the U.S. population would use the term to describe her.

2008: Forbes Most Overexposed Celebrity

In 2008, Forbes ranked Paris Hilton as the most "overexposed" celebrity.

2008: Film Releases and Razzie Awards

In 2008, Paris Hilton starred in "The Hottie and the Nottie", appeared in an episode of "My Name Is Earl", and was featured in the documentary "Paris, Not France" and the film "Repo! The Genetic Opera". She won Worst Actress for "The Hottie and the Nottie" and Worst Supporting Actress for "Repo!" at the Razzie Awards.

2008: Response to McCain Ad

In 2008, after being compared to Barack Obama in a John McCain presidential campaign ad, Paris Hilton released a Funny or Die video entitled Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Ad.

2008: Bling Ring Burglaries Begin

In 2008, the Bling Ring began targeting Paris Hilton's home for burglaries, stealing jewellery, clothing, and cash.

2009: Continued Burglaries by Bling Ring

In 2009, the Bling Ring continued to burglarize Paris Hilton's residence, contributing to the nearly $2 million in stolen property.

July 2, 2010: Accused of Smoking Marijuana at FIFA World Cup

On July 2, 2010, Paris Hilton was accused of smoking marijuana at the 2010 FIFA World Cup game between Brazil and the Netherlands. Though escorted from the stadium, the case was later dismissed.

August 2010: Nathan Lee Parada Arrested Outside House

In August 2010, Nathan Lee Parada was arrested after being spotted with knives outside Paris Hilton's house, leading to his conviction for attempted burglary.

August 27, 2010: Arrested for Cocaine Possession

On August 27, 2010, Paris Hilton was arrested in Las Vegas on suspicion of cocaine possession, leading to her booking and release on her own recognizance.

September 17, 2010: Pleaded Guilty to Misdemeanors

On September 17, 2010, to avoid a felony conviction, Paris Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors related to drug possession and was sentenced to probation, community service, a fine, and a drug-abuse treatment program.

September 21, 2010: Detained in Japan Due to Drug Conviction

On September 21, 2010, Paris Hilton and her sister Nicky were stopped at Narita Airport in Japan due to Hilton's drug-possession conviction and were detained overnight.

October 2010: James Rainford's First Arrest

In October 2010, James Rainford was arrested for trespassing and pounding on Paris Hilton's door, resulting in probation and a restraining order.

April 2011: James Rainford's Second Arrest

In April 2011, James Rainford was arrested a second time for attacking her boyfriend Cy Waits outside Van Nuys Superior Court, where Hilton was headed to testify against Nathan Lee Parada.

2011: Most unpopular celebrity with Americans (Ipsos poll)

In 2011, an Ipsos poll concluded that Paris Hilton was the most unpopular celebrity with Americans, with 60 percent of respondents viewing her unfavorably.

June 28, 2012: DJ Debut at Brazil's Pop Music Festival

On June 28, 2012, Paris Hilton made her debut as a DJ at Brazil's Pop Music Festival, which drew negative reactions from established DJs.

September 20, 2012: Homophobic Comments Leak and Apology

On September 20, 2012, an audio of what was perceived as homophobic comments allegedly made by Paris Hilton leaked onto the Internet, leading to a backlash and her subsequent apology through GLAAD.

2012: Forbes ranking in overexposed list

Paris Hilton ranked fifth in Forbes' list of "overexposed" celebrities in 2012.

November 2013: "Obsessed Fan" Flies Banner Over Malibu

In November 2013, an "obsessed fan" flew a plane over Malibu with banners professing his infatuation with Paris Hilton.

2013: International Paris Hilton Day permanently discontinued

In 2013, International Paris Hilton Day was permanently discontinued due to controversial comments made by Paris Hilton the previous year.

October 2014: Lukas Redanz Arrested at Gated Community

In October 2014, Lukas Redanz, a man covered in tattoos of Paris Hilton, was arrested after going to her gated community.

December 2014: Anti-Semitic Messages and Threats

In December 2014, Paris Hilton reported receiving anti-Semitic messages and threats on social media from a man who believed she was Jewish.

2014: Forbes ranking in overexposed list

In 2014, Paris Hilton ranked eight in Forbes' list of "overexposed" celebrities.

2015: Fan Poses as Deliveryman

In 2015, An "obsessed fan" posed as a flower deliveryman to gain access to her gated community, where he left her a classic Cadillac.

2015: Identity Theft Scheme Begins

In 2015, Paytsar Bkhchadzhyan began an identity theft scheme targeting Paris Hilton, using her credit cards and impersonating her in emails.

2017: Bkhchadzhyan Arrested

In 2017, Paytsar Bkhchadzhyan was arrested for bank fraud conspiracy related to the identity theft scheme targeting Paris Hilton and her family.

October 9, 2020: Protest outside Provo Canyon School

On October 9, 2020, Paris Hilton held a rally outside Provo Canyon School in Utah to protest alleged abuse at the school and similar programs for troubled teens.

February 8, 2021: Testimony before Utah State Legislature

On February 8, 2021, Paris Hilton testified before the Utah State Legislature to advocate for increased oversight of youth residential treatment centers, detailing her experiences at Provo Canyon School.

2022: Testimony before United States House Committee

In 2022, Paris Hilton appeared before the United States House Committee on Ways and Means to testify in support of measures to improve child welfare in the United States.

2023: Backing the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act

In 2023, Paris Hilton supported the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which aims to provide greater oversight and data transparency for institutional youth treatment programs.