Paris Hilton Testifies Before Congress on Abuse

In a poignant and impassioned testimony before the U.S. Congress, Paris Hilton revealed the traumatic abuses she endured while institutionalized as a teenager in “for-profit” youth behavioral treatment facilities. Addressing the House Ways and Means Committee, Hilton recounted instances of being force-fed medications and subjected to sexual abuse by staff across multiple residential institutions aimed at troubled teens.

Paris Hilton, a prominent media figure, used her platform to advocate for enhanced support and protections for children in foster care, despite not having been in foster care herself. She highlighted the detrimental impact of youth residential treatment facilities on young individuals, emphasizing her own experience of being forcibly removed from her home and subjected to severe restrictions for years.

During her testimony, Hilton detailed being violently restrained, dragged through hallways, stripped naked, and placed in solitary confinement. She asserted that her parents were misled and manipulated by the for-profit industry, which promised healing and support but delivered a harsh reality of abuse and isolation.

Hilton condemned the “troubled teen industry,” describing it as a billion-dollar business that includes institutions like therapeutic boarding schools and behavior modification programs. She characterized her confinement in these facilities as a form of “parent-approved kidnapping,” where she was denied basic communication with the outside world and subjected to physical and emotional mistreatment.

Beyond her congressional testimony, Paris Hilton has been a vocal advocate for reforming youth behavioral treatment facilities. Her 2021 opinion piece in the Washington Post underscored the need for transparency and accountability in these institutions, urging legislative action to protect vulnerable youth from exploitation and harm.

Hilton’s testimony serves as a call to action for lawmakers to enact stringent regulations and oversight to prevent further abuses in youth residential treatment facilities. Her bravery in sharing her traumatic experiences aims to raise awareness and spark meaningful reforms that prioritize the safety and well-being of all children in institutional care.