Paris Hilton Says It Was ‘Difficult’ Navigating ‘Misogynistic’ 2000s Media

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Paris Hilton blamed the “misogynistic” 2000s media landscape for making her a “target” of tabloid gossip in a new i-D cover story.

The businesswoman and media personality discussed the creation of her public persona, which Hilton called a “ticket to financial freedom and a safe place to hide.”

“My sexy clothes, music, videos—the whole Carl’s Jr. burger-eating routine—that was my way of reclaiming a healthy sexuality that had been robbed from me,” she told the publication.

But even while enjoying a glamorous lifestyle in her teens and early 20s, the former Simple Life star recalled being picked apart in media tabloids. Among the sensational articles written about Hilton and her entertainment peers like Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan, one was titled “Bimbo Summit.”

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“During the 2000s, the media was so misogynistic—they would target certain girls, and there was a small group of us that they would constantly berate and abuse,” Hilton shared.

“It was extremely difficult to grow up in that way, having those few people who controlled the media control our storylines,” she continued. “Now, what I love about social media is that people can actually find out from the source, and that I can write my own story.”

Last year, while promoting three-part special Paris & Nicole: The Encore with Nicole Richie, Hilton told Glamour about “vile stuff” that used to be written about her.

“There would be a lot of nights I’d cry and I’d call my mom. I’d be like, ‘This is not even true,'” the mother of two told the publication. “But it also made me so strong where after a while, I just realized these are people who don’t even know me. They’re just making stories up.”

She continued, “The people who love and know me know the truth. And you just have to try to ignore it. So that’s why I feel the girls today are so lucky that that doesn’t happen anymore. It’s very, very traumatizing to have to live through.”