Paris Hilton says she was 'tortured' as a teen in bombshell claim

Paris Hilton has shocked fans, claiming she experienced ‘continuous torture’ while at boarding school as a teenager.

The socialite and heiress said she suffered the abuse while at boarding school in Utah in the late 1990’s as a teenager, where she was sent by her parents to reform her wild behaviour.

Paris Hilton poses hand s on hips exposed abuse suffered as teen at school
Paris Hilton has made a bombshell claim about abuse she says she suffered as a teenager. Photo: Getty Images

A mega-star of the early 2000’s, Paris made the shocking admission ahead of a new YouTube original documentary This is Paris, which promises to let fans in on the ‘real’, ‘unfiltered’ Paris Hilton, and expose a dark secret from her past.

Ahead of the program’s September 14th release date, the heir to Hilton Hotels revealed the shocking claim to People Magazine, telling the publication that while at the boarding school she was subjected to daily abuse and bullying from staff which she likened to torture.

“It was supposed to be a school, but [classes] were not the focus at all,” Paris told the magazine. “From the moment I woke up until I went to bed, it was all day screaming in my face, yelling at me, continuous torture.”

Paris ‘physically and emotionally abused’ at reform school

Paris Hilton with mother Kathy Hilton in 1997 as a 17-year-old while attending reform school
Paris attended the school as a 17-year-old and says her parents including mum Kathy (pictured) had no idea about the abuse. Photo: Getty Images

Paris’ parents Kathy and Rick Hilton sent her to the boarding school, Provo Canyon School in Springville, at 17-years-old in a bid to reform their rebellious teen who at the time was sneaking out of her New York City home to attend clubs and parties.

The school, which promises a ‘deep history in helping youths meet mental health and academic needs’ on its website, according to the star instead delivered abuse on a daily basis.

“The staff would say terrible things,” she told the magazine. “They were constantly making me feel bad about myself and [bullying] me. I think it was their goal to break us down. And they were physically abusive, hitting and strangling us. They wanted to instill fear in the kids so we’d be too scared to disobey them.”

The star even claimed that on one occasion she was put in solitary confinement after a plan to escape was discovered by staff, and hat she experience panic attacks on a daily basis.

Paris Hilton cries in This is Paris YouTube documentary exposing child abuse as teenager
Ahead of her upcoming YouTube documentary This is Paris the star revealed she was 'tortured' at a reform school. Photo: Getty Images

The star claims she was prohibited from communicating the truth to her parents, who had no idea what was going on at the school.

She left after 11 months, her family none the wiser to what she alleges took place.

When asked for comment, the school told People, “Originally opened in 1971, Provo Canyon School was sold by its previous ownership in August 2000. We, therefore, cannot comment on the operations or patient experience prior to this time.”

Paris wants to show the world ‘who she truly is’

Paris Hilton at her 21st birthday party covering up abuse suffered as a teenager
The upcoming documentary claims Paris' wild party girl reputation of the early 2000's was a 'coping' mechanism. Photo: Getty Images

As for why the now-39-year-old has chosen this moment, more than two decades later to share the story with her fans, she says it is a bid to show her fans and the world the real person behind the glitz and shallow showiness of her earlier Simple Life and socialite image.

“I buried my truth for so long,” Paris said. “But I’m proud of the strong woman I’ve become. People might assume everything in my life came easy to me, but I want to show the world who I truly am.”

That person is promised to be on display in the upcoming YouTube program, which implies that the star’s almost caricature-like public persona at the height of her fame was a way of covering and coping with her hidden trauma.

Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)
Paris says her Simple Life party girl persona was a character used to hide her past. Photo: Getty Images

The very uncharacteristic decision to give fans what is being billed as a candid glimpse into her world reportedly left Paris weak with nerves.

Back in July while promoting the documentary on her Instagram page, Paris admitted she was “nervous” and “shaking” to publicly open up about her past.

This is Paris premieres on YouTube on September 14.

Watch the full trailer below:

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