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, known for her presence in New York City's social scene in the late 1990s. As a great-granddaughter of Hilton Hotels founder Conrad Hilton, she gained wider recognition through fashion modeling and was dubbed "New York's leading It Girl" in 2001. The reality TV show "The Simple Life," co-starring Nicole Richie, and a leaked sex tape further propelled her to global fame. Hilton has also partnered with TY to create a Beanie Boo series. She remains a prominent figure in popular culture.

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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

Shortly before the December 2003 premiere of The Simple Life, the scandal involving Paris Hilton's sex tape arose, catapulting her into global fame.

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2003: Criticism in The New York Times

In 2003, John Leland wrote in The New York Times that Paris Hilton's rise showed how far celebrity itself had been devalued.

2003: Sex tape featuring Hilton and Rick Salomon leaked

In 2003, a sex tape featuring Paris Hilton and her 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 the Hilton family. Hilton later sued Kahatani Ltd., the company that released the tape, for US$30 million for violation of privacy and emotional distress.

April 2004: Salomon distributes "1 Night in Paris"

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

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July 2004: Salomon drops lawsuit; 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: Release of 1 Night in Paris

In 2004, the leaked sex tape featuring Paris Hilton and Rick Salomon was released as 1 Night in Paris, further amplifying her global fame.

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September 7, 2006: Hilton arrested for DUI

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: Hilton's driver's license suspended

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

2006: Second-Worst Celebrity Role Model

A 2006 poll conducted by the Associated Press and AOL concluded that Paris Hilton was the second-worst celebrity role model, behind Britney Spears.

2006: Celebrity 100 Inclusion and Most Overexposed Celebrity

In 2006, Forbes included Paris Hilton in its Celebrity 100 list 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, who replaced 500 copies of her album with his own alternative version in 48 record shops across the United Kingdom.

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

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

February 19, 2007: Reporting Ban Attempt

On the week of February 19, 2007, the Associated Press attempted to not mention Paris Hilton.

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 she signed an agreement that she was not permitted to drive.

May 4, 2007: Hilton 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 the probation violation.

June 5, 2007: Hilton begins jail term

On June 5, 2007, Paris Hilton was required to begin her jail term and entered the Century Regional Detention Facility 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: Public Opinion

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 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: 100% Paris-Free Issue

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

September 6, 2007: Lawsuit Against Hallmark Cards Inc.

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

November 2007: Unfriendly Celebrity Ranking

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

August 2008: Lawsuit by Worldwide Entertainment Group

In August 2008, Worldwide Entertainment Group sued Paris Hilton at the Miami District Court, alleging that she did not fulfill her contractual agreement to provide "reasonable promotion and publicity" for the film Pledge This! despite receiving a US$1 million fee for the role.

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2008: Overexposure Ranking

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

2008: Most Overexposed Celebrity

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

2008: Hilton's house burgled by the Bling Ring

In 2008, Paris Hilton's house was burgled by the Bling Ring, a group of fashion-motivated thieves. She was the group's first and main celebrity target.

2008: Response to McCain Ad

In 2008, after the John McCain presidential campaign compared Barack Obama to celebrities such as Paris Hilton, she responded with a Funny or Die video entitled Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Ad.

2009: Hilton's house burgled by the Bling Ring

In 2009, Paris Hilton's house was burgled several times by the Bling Ring, a group of fashion-motivated thieves. They reportedly burgled Hilton's residence seven times.

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 security men spotted him wielding two knives outside Paris Hilton's house. He was later found guilty on one felony count of attempted first-degree residential burglary.

August 27, 2010: Hilton arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession

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. Hilton and Waits were booked into the Clark County jail.

September 17, 2010: Hilton pleads guilty to misdemeanors

On September 17, 2010, to avoid a felony conviction, Paris Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors. Under the terms of the plea bargain, she was sentenced to one year of probation, 200 hours of community service, a US$2,000 fine and the 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 to promote fashion and fragrance lines because of Hilton's drug-possession conviction. Airport officials questioned Hilton and Nicky was detained overnight at the airport hotel.

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

In October 2010, James Rainford was arrested after he bicycled past guards at the entrance to Paris Hilton's gated community, went to her house, and began pounding on her door. He earned three years' probation, along with a restraining order from Hilton.

April 2011: James Rainford arrested for attacking Cy Waits

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

2011: Most Unpopular Celebrity

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: Debut as a DJ at Brazil's Pop Music Festival

On June 28, 2012, Paris Hilton made her debut as a DJ at Brazil's Pop Music Festival. This event garnered negative responses from other DJs.

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

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

2012: Forbes Ranking

Forbes ranked Paris Hilton fifth on the list of most overexposed celebrity in 2012.

November 2013: "Obsessed fan" flies banner over Malibu

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

2013: Hilton claims she never made money off her sex tape

In 2013, Paris Hilton claimed she never made money off her sex tape and that her fragrance line makes enough money for her.

2013: International Paris Hilton Day Discontinued

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

October 2014: Man with Hilton tattoos arrested at her gated community

In October 2014, Lukas Redanz, a man who was completely covered with tattoos of Paris Hilton and appeared to be "extremely drunk", was arrested after he reportedly went 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 believed she was Jewish; he threatened to rape and kill her.

2014: Forbes Ranking

Forbes ranked Paris Hilton eight on the list of most overexposed celebrity in 2014.

2015: Hilton target of identity theft

In 2015, Paris Hilton was the target of an identity theft scheme by Paytsar Bkhchadzhyan, a woman who used Hilton's credit cards to book a party at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

2015: Fan poses as deliveryman and leaves classic Cadillac

In 2015, an "obsessed fan", 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 had been stealing from Paris Hilton, was arrested in 2017 for bank fraud conspiracy, and was later sentenced to 57 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution.