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, born into the Hilton Hotels family. She gained prominence in the late 1990s as a socialite in New York City. Her fame escalated significantly with the reality TV series 'The Simple Life' (2003-2007), co-starring Nicole Richie, and the release of a leaked sex tape, '1 Night in Paris' (2004). She became a global celebrity, leveraging her image into various business ventures.

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Full Timeline Controversies & Scandals

2001: Dating Rick Salomon

In 2001, Paris Hilton dated poker player Rick Salomon, with whom she filmed her sex tape.

December 2003: Premiere of The Simple Life and Rise to Global Fame

Shortly before the December 2003 premiere of The Simple Life, the scandal involving her sex tape emerged, ultimately propelling Paris Hilton into global fame.

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2003: Criticism in The New York Times

In 2003, John Leland writing for The New York Times, commented on the devaluation of celebrity culture in relation to Paris Hilton's rise to fame.

2003: The Simple Life Debut and Sex Tape Leak

In 2003, Paris Hilton co-starred with Nicole Richie in the reality television series "The Simple Life". Also in 2003, a sex tape with her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was leaked.

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2003: Sex tape featuring Paris Hilton 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. Salomon filed a lawsuit against the company that distributed the tape, and against the Hilton family. Hilton also sued the company that released the tape for violation of privacy and emotional distress.

April 2004: Rick Salomon distributes sex tape 1 Night in Paris

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

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July 2004: Lawsuit Dropped and Settlement Reached

In July 2004, Rick Salomon dropped his lawsuit against the Hilton family after Paris Hilton's privacy lawsuit was thrown out of court. Salomon and Red Light District Video agreed to pay Hilton US$400,000 plus a percentage of the tape's sale profit.

2004: Sex Tape Released as 1 Night in Paris

In 2004, the sex tape leaked in 2003 with her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon was released as "1 Night in Paris".

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September 7, 2006: Paris Hilton Arrested for DUI

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

November 2006: Hilton's driver's license suspended

In November 2006, Paris Hilton's driver's license was suspended.

2006: Banksy's Album Rework

In 2006, Banksy replaced 500 copies of Paris Hilton's album in record shops across the United Kingdom with his own alternative version, featuring satirical remixes and topless pictures.

2006: Celebrity 100 Inclusion and Most Overexposed Celebrity Rank

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

2006: Second-Worst Celebrity Role Model

In 2006, a poll by the Associated Press and AOL ranked Paris Hilton as the second-worst celebrity role model, behind Britney Spears.

January 22, 2007: Hilton pleads no contest to reckless driving charge

On January 22, 2007, Paris Hilton pleaded no contest to a reckless driving charge and was sentenced to 36 months' probation and fines totaling about US$1,500.

February 19, 2007: Associated Press Reporting Ban

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

February 27, 2007: Hilton stopped for driving with a suspended license

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

May 4, 2007: Hilton sentenced to jail for probation violation

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

June 5, 2007: Hilton begins her jail term

On June 5, 2007, Paris Hilton began her jail term at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood, California, after attending the 2007 MTV Movie Awards on June 3, 2007.

June 7, 2007: Hilton resentenced to home confinement

On June 7, 2007, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca signed an order resentencing Paris Hilton to 40 days of home confinement with an electronic monitoring device due to an unspecified medical condition.

June 2007: Unsympathetic Public Sentiment

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

June 26, 2007: Morning Joe Refusal to Report

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

June 29, 2007: Us Weekly Paris-Free Issue

On June 29, 2007, Us Weekly published its first "100% Paris-Free" issue.

September 6, 2007: Injunction lawsuit against Hallmark Cards Inc.

On September 6, 2007, Paris Hilton filed an injunction lawsuit against Hallmark Cards Inc. for using her picture and catchphrase "That's hot" on a greeting card.

November 2007: Unfriendly Celebrity Among Children

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

August 2008: Lawsuit Over Pledge This! Promotion

In August 2008, Worldwide Entertainment Group sued Paris Hilton, alleging that she did not fulfill her contractual agreement to provide "reasonable promotion and publicity" for the film Pledge This!.

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2008: Paris Hilton's house burgled by the Bling Ring

Between 2008 and 2009, Paris Hilton's house was burgled several times by the Bling Ring, a group of fashion-motivated thieves.

2008: Media Oversaturation

Despite a reporting ban on Hilton, in 2008, Forbes ranked her as the most 'overexposed' celebrity a second time.

2008: Ranked as Most Overexposed Celebrity

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

2008: Response to McCain Ad

In 2008, Paris Hilton responded to a John McCain presidential campaign ad that compared Barack Obama to her through a Funny or Die video.

2009: Paris Hilton's house burgled by the Bling Ring

Between 2008 and 2009, Paris Hilton's house was burgled several times by the Bling Ring, a group of fashion-motivated thieves.

July 2, 2010: Hilton 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. Although she was escorted from the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium by local police, the case was later dismissed.

August 2010: Nathan Lee Parada arrested outside Hilton's house

In August 2010, Nathan Lee Parada was arrested after being spotted wielding two knives outside Paris Hilton's house.

August 27, 2010: Hilton arrested for cocaine possession in Las Vegas

On August 27, 2010, Paris Hilton was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of cocaine possession in Las Vegas. Her boyfriend, Cy Waits, was charged with driving under the influence.

September 17, 2010: Hilton pleads guilty to two misdemeanors

On September 17, 2010, to avoid a felony conviction, Paris Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors and was sentenced to one year of probation, 200 hours of community service, a US$2,000 fine, and completion of a drug-abuse treatment program on September 20.

September 21, 2010: Hilton detained in Japan due to drug conviction

On September 21, 2010, Paris Hilton and her sister Nicky were stopped by immigration officers at Narita Airport on their way to a Tokyo press conference because of Hilton's drug-possession conviction. They were detained overnight at the airport hotel.

October 2010: James Rainford arrested for trespassing at Hilton's house

In October 2010, James Rainford was arrested for trespassing at Paris Hilton's house and was given three years' probation and a restraining order from Hilton.

April 2011: Rainford arrested for attacking Hilton's boyfriend

In April 2011, James Rainford was arrested for attacking Paris Hilton's boyfriend Cy Waits outside Van Nuys Superior Court. He was arrested again in July outside her Malibu, California, beach house.

2011: Most Unpopular Celebrity with Americans

A 2011 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 attracted negative responses from other DJs. In 2012, she starred in a music video for Korean singer Kim Jang-hoon and appeared in a commercial for Turkish fashion label DeFacto, modeled at India Fashion Week, and launched a line of sunglasses in Shanghai.

September 20, 2012: Audio of homophobic comments made by Hilton leaked

On September 20, 2012, an audio of what was perceived as homophobic comments made by Paris Hilton leaked onto the Internet. Following the backlash, she issued an apology through GLAAD.

2012: Forbes Ranking

In 2012, Forbes ranked her fifth most overexposed celebrity.

November 2013: "Obsessed fan" flies plane over Malibu with banners for Hilton

In November 2013, an "obsessed fan" flew a plane over Malibu with two banners for Paris Hilton, one reading, "Can't Get Paris Whitney Hilton Out of My Mind," and the other, "Mr. & Mrs. Hilton, may I court your daughter Paris?"

2013: Discontinuation of International Paris Hilton Day

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

October 2014: Man covered in Hilton tattoos arrested near her gated community

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

December 2014: Hilton receives anti-Semitic messages and threats

In December 2014, Paris Hilton filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department after receiving anti-Semitic messages on social media from a man who threatened to rape and kill her.

2014: Forbes Ranking

In 2014, Forbes ranked her eighth most overexposed celebrity.

2015: Hilton targeted in identity theft scheme

Between 2015 and 2017, Paris Hilton was the target of an identity theft scheme by Paytsar Bkhchadzhyan, who used Hilton's credit cards to book a party and stole nude photos of Hilton from her iCloud account.

2015: Fan leaves Cadillac for Hilton

In 2015, the same person that flew a plane over Malibu, reportedly posed as a flower deliveryman to gain access to Paris Hilton's gated community, where he left her a classic Cadillac.

2017: Bkhchadzhyan sentenced for identity theft scheme

In 2017, Paytsar Bkhchadzhyan, who targeted Paris Hilton in an identity theft scheme, was arrested for bank fraud conspiracy, and was later sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution.

October 9, 2020: Rally 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 other programs for troubled teens.

February 8, 2021: Testimony Before Utah State Legislature

On February 8, 2021, Paris Hilton testified before the Utah State Legislature in support of a bill to increase government oversight of youth residential treatment centers, sharing her experiences of abuse 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 on behalf of measures to improve child welfare in the United States.

2023: Support for 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.