Drew Barrymore and Paris Hilton are looking back at their time in solitary confinement.
Socialite and TV Personality, Paris Hilton has been in the spotlight ever since she was a teenager. However, the Mogul’s life hasn’t exactly been all fun and parties. The businesswoman recently put out a new documentary titled, “This Is Paris.” Where she opens up about the physical, emotional and verbal abuse she endured as a teen when she was forcefully sent against her will to a boarding school in Utah, called, Provo Canyon School. “The Simple Life” star, details how the abuse and trauma she experienced, crawled it’s way later into her life. Whether it be through abusive ex-boyfriends, strained relationships, constant nightmares or a need for external validation.
Hilton recently made a guest appearance on “The Drew Barrymore Show” this Monday to discuss her experience and explain why she decided to publicly share her abusive past in the documentary.
“I’ve been where you’ve been. I’m watching a mirror image of everything I’ve been through, as well”
Introducing Paris on the show, Drew asks her if she has talked to anyone, “who’s been through what you’ve been through?”
“Yes, I’ve been speaking to a lot of the survivors.” Paris revealed. “I received thousands of letters and emails and people just contacting me and telling me thank you for being brave and telling my story,” Hilton continued. The 39 year old star alleges that she was beaten and bullied by staff members of Provo Canyon School, given unknown pills and put in solitary confinement. Paris hopes that her courage in speaking out will inspire others to do the same. “We’re starting a movement called Breaking Code Silence, where survivors are going to tell their stories.
Surprisingly, when Barrymore watched Hilton’s documentary, she felt seen. “I’ve been where you’ve been, Drew revealed to Hilton. “And watching your documentary — I’m watching a mirror image of everything I’ve been through, as well,” the host confessed.
The stars went on to reflect on their shared experience of being placed at institutions for minors with behavioral issues.
“So I want you to know that I’ve had the people come and take me away,” she continued. “I’ve been locked up in solitary confinement, I’ve been in a place for lengthy periods of time. We’re talking a year, a year and a half, plus. I haven’t seen a kind of story like this really reflected out there very often. It’s one I recognize so deeply.”
“I feel like there are just so many misconceptions about me”
Barrymore goes on to ask her guest why she decided to do this now. To which Hilton replied, explaining, that the emotional revelation of her traumatic past “wasn’t supposed to be the original premise of the film.”
“I wanted to do a film to show the businesswoman I am, and all I’ve accomplished. Because I feel like there are just so many misconceptions about me,” she said. “And then during shooting, I just became so close with the director.” This Is Paris has been directed by Emmy-winning talent, Alexandra Dean. “We had this sisterly relationship where I felt like I could open up about anything with her. And she told me, ‘It’s important that you tell your story, because you’re going to help other survivors. And people will want to come forward with their (stories).’ It was very difficult for me, because it wasn’t something I never wanted to talk about in public.”
“I was embarrassed for people to know,” she admitted. “I now know that I shouldn’t be ashamed. The people who work at these places who are abusing children are the ones who should be ashamed.”
“I was very rebellious. I started riots there all the time”
That being said, Hilton and Barrymore’s experiences were quite different. Barrymore, who fell into alcoholism and addiction as a child actress, said the institution she was at, ultimately ended up saving her life.
“The people at my place were really good,” she said. “I mean, I didn’t like being thrown in solitary confinement. I will say that I was very rebellious, I started riots there all the time. There were a lot of other kids like me, and my mom just didn’t know what to do with me. I was doing drugs. I was out of control. She just threw her hands up and threw me in there, not knowing where else to turn to. And that place really did help me and it did save my life, and I actually wouldn’t change a thing,” Barrymore confessed.
“I wasn’t allowed to go on dates, couldn’t wear makeup, couldn’t go to a school dance”
However, when asked if Hilton got something positive out of the experience, she answered in the negative. Saying that the only thing her experience at the boarding school ended up giving her was, “trust issues and PTSD.”
“I didn’t deserve to go there,” she continued. “My mom and dad were just very strict and sheltered when I lived in L.A. I wasn’t allowed to go on dates, couldn’t wear makeup, couldn’t go to a school dance. They just didn’t want me to grow up.” The actress then talked about moving to her New York and the lifestyle changes that came with it. “I was sneaking out at night and going to clubs and ditching school, but not doing anything terrible.” But that was enough to scare her “overprotective” parents.
Barrymore went on to reveal, “I have a host of issues with my mom, many of which I let go [of] somewhere around 40,” Barrymore said. “What is the status of your relationship with Kathy right now?”
“We’re closer than ever,” Hilton admitted. “It’s something that we just never talked about, so it was very hard for her to hear. But I think just talking about it just brought us even closer than we were.”
“I’m excited for my relationship with my boyfriend, moving on to the next phase of my life and starting a family”
Barrymore also asked the socialite if she was addicted to love, to which Paris replied in the affirmative. Saying that everything she went through has resulted in her always searching for “Love and Attention.” In her documentary, Paris touches upon ex-boyfriends who have been abusive to her in the past. “I was strangled, I was hit, I was grabbed aggressively, I put up with things no one should,” she says in the documentary. “I thought that them getting so crazy meant that they were in love with me. Looking back, I can’t believe I let people treat me like that.”
However, things are looking up for Hilton who believes she is at the best place of her life right now. She tells Barrymore, “I’m excited for my relationship with my boyfriend, (Carter Reum), moving on to the next phase of my life and starting a family.”
“The Drew Barrymore Show” airs on weekdays at 9 a.m. EST on CBS 2.
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