Bustle Exclusive
As a child, the heiress witnessed the industrys horrors firsthand.
Now, shes fighting back.
Until Hilton released her bombshell 2020 documentary,This Is Paris.
(Season 2 drops todayon the iHeartRadio app and all other podcast platforms.)
This is my purpose in life now.
Whats one thing you wish everyone knew?
Paris Hilton:That the marketing is so deceptive.
But none of those photos were even taken at the school.
It was all stock photos.
Theyre selling these families a lie during the most vulnerable time.
So its turned into this huge industry that so many children and families have been victim to.
I just want people to know thats happening behind closed doors.
Theres a misconception that because theyre expensive, they must be good.
Rebecca Grone:A really important point.
Also, it isnt just wealthy families paying for this level of treatment.
It has come under fire for allegations ofphysical and sexual abuse.
How did you land on this focus?
And Lichfieldactually startedas a dorm parent at Provo Canyon School.
He worked there for over a decade.
I put that in quotes, because we ask the question, Better for who?
Better in what ways?
Once you started digging into WWASP, what shocked you most?
Were they held accountable?
And unfortunately, the answer is no.
Thats something we dive into [this year].
When doingmy own reporting on this industry, survivors I spoke with were often grappling with their trauma.
But unfortunately there isnt a guidebook for how to interview vulnerable subjects without triggering them.
How did you two approach this?
So outside of Rebecca, 11:11 is led by lived-experience experts like myself.
We sent questions ahead of time, letting them know what wed be diving into.
We let them mark off any questions they were not interested in exploring.
When you first tell your story out loud, it can feel so vulnerable.
It feels like youre naked in front of a room full of people.
We wanted to verify folks were not only supported [during the interview] but afterward too.
But you also stress its actually bills on the state level that could create the most change.
Grone:Weve worked on eight state bills and have successfully passed laws in those states.
Were hoping those will be signed by their governors.
Paris, I know you werejust in Jamaicasupporting those who spoke out about theAtlantis Leadership Academy.
What can you tell us about that experience?
That they arent alone.
So it was heartbreaking to see the boys and how broken they looked.
But it also made me happy that when they saw me.
They just were like, Thank you so much for coming.
This means the world to us.
Paris and Caroline, what has been the most cathartic part of engaging in this work?
Hilton:Its been the most healing experience of my life.
I was at these schools and my family didnt believe [what happened to me].
Cole:Its so rare that people are able to create systemic change in systems that have harmed them.
So I feel so incredibly honored and privileged.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
In an emergency, contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineby calling or texting 988, or call 911.
