Paris Hilton has reflected on the painful aftermath of the sex tape leaked without her consent when she was only 19. The recording, released in 2004, involved her then-boyfriend Rick Salomon, who was 35 at the time. Reports later revealed that Salomon sold the footage and marketed it as “one night stand in Paris,” turning a private moment into a public spectacle.

Hilton faced years of public mockery, and she has often spoken about the damage the leak caused. She now says she feels a sense of healing knowing that such an act would be recognized as revenge porn under today’s laws. Speaking to The Sunday Times, she said many people now understand how wrong the situation was, especially given her age and the imbalance of power in the relationship.

She recalled feeling judged from the moment the tape surfaced, describing the experience as deeply painful and humiliating. In a conversation with Louis Theroux earlier this year in Cannes, France, Hilton explained that the betrayal cut deeply because it came from someone she trusted. She said the release of the tape shaped how the world viewed her and left a mark she still carries.

Hilton also noted how harsh the media environment was at the time, and how the incident overshadowed her work and plans for her early television career. The cultural response, she said, added to the heartbreak.

In May, the United States strengthened legal protections with the Take It Down Act, signed by President Donald Trump. The law makes it a federal crime to distribute intimate images without consent, including AI-generated deepfakes, and carries penalties of up to three years in prison.