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Paris Hilton Advocates For Child Welfare ReformEarlier this year, in Washington, DC, Paris Hilton shared with Congress that she endured sexual abuse and was force-fed medication while in youth residential treatment centers.
The 43-year-old Hilton opened up about her nightmarish teen years in so-called "tough love" programs. At 16, Hilton was yanked from her bed and shipped off to a series of facilities for two hellish years. Despite promises of help and healing, these places dished out nothing but abuse and torment for Hilton.
Hilton's testimony painted a grim picture of her time in these facilities. She told of being drugged, sexually abused, and manhandled by staff. Hilton recounted being hauled around like cargo, stripped, and tossed in isolation. Worst of all, Hilton said she couldn't talk, move, or even peek out a window for years.
The scars from this ordeal run deep. Hilton disclosed that she developed a coping mechanism, creating a "Barbie doll fantasy life" as a protective mask to deal with the pain she endured. This sheds new light on Hilton's party girl image, hinting at hidden depths beneath the glitz.
Hilton didn't just share her story—she demanded action. She backed efforts to breathe new life into a lapsed child welfare law and pushed for a new bill to tackle abuse in youth programs head-on.
“These programs promised healing, growth, and support but ended up not allowing me to speak, move freely, or even look out a window for two years,” Hilton said. “The staff force-fed me medications and sexually abused me. I was violently restrained, stripped naked, and placed in solitary confinement,” she recounted according to the Independent.
Hilton pushed for rules letting kids talk to parents without watchful eyes. She described being cut off from the world, with every call monitored and critiques punished.
She also singled out Utah's Provo Canyon School as a hotbed of abuse. This facility has has been slapped with lawsuits and accused of abuse by many former students. While the school has since changed management and could not comment directly on Hilton's allegations, they maintain that they provide a structured environment for youth with complex emotional and behavioral needs.
Politicians from both sides of the aisle applauded Hilton's guts and activism. Reps Thompson and Kelly gushed over Hilton's powerful words and their potential impact.
This wasn't Hilton's first rodeo in the halls of Congress. Back in 2021, she campaigned for a "Bill of Rights" for kids in these facilities. Hilton's ongoing crusade shows she's dead set on protecting kids from her own painful past.
Hilton's testimony is a stark wake-up call about abuse in the system and the need for change. By sharing her story, Hilton aims to be a voice for voiceless kids and shield future generations.
Hilton's words will likely shape both minds and laws as the child welfare debate rages on. Her bravery and dedication might just spark real change in how we protect society's most vulnerable - kids.
