PHOTO: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin
Earlier this week, a profile of Paris Hilton—published by *Marie Claire*—meant to highlight her accomplishments in the international DJ, pop music, and perfume realms quickly made headlines for her remarks about President Donald Trump. On Thursday, the hotel heiress issued an apology to US Weekly.
“I want to apologize for my comments from an interview I did last year,” she said in a statement. “They were part of a much larger story and I am regretful that they were not delivered in the way I had intended. I was speaking about my own experiences in life and the role of media and fame in our society and it was never my intention for my comments to be misapplied almost a year later.”
During the course of the interview, Hilton seemed nonplussed by the infamous Access Hollywood tape—the one in which Trump bragged about grabbing women “by the p-ssy”—telling reporter Irin Carmon, “I’ve heard guys say the craziest things ever, because I’m always around guys, and I listen to them speak.” Further, when asked about the multiple women who came forward with allegations that the President had sexually assaulted them, Hilton dismissed their claims, saying, “I think that they are just trying to get attention and get fame.”
Not long after the piece was published, Carmon shared an extended transcript of her conversation with Hilton, and it seemed to support her defense of Trump (a man who is also an old friend of her family’s):
Hilton’s comments caused a wave of backlash from the public, and she further addressed this criticism in her statement:
“I always believe in helping women have their voices heard and helping create an environment where women feel empowered and believe in themselves. I am deeply hurt by how this has played out and also deeply sorry. Moving forward I will continue to do what I can to be an advocate for girls and women with the hopes of providing louder voice for those who may desperately need it.”