Paris Hilton says she was mentally and physically abused at a boarding school in Utah

Salt lake city. Paris Hilton she testified about the abuse she says she suffered years ago at a boarding school in Utah and supported a bill that aims to regulate the state’s troubled teen industry.

When she was 17 years old, Hilton attended Provo Canyon School for 11 months, where she says she was mentally and physically abused. She recalled being beaten by staff members, forcing her to swallow unidentified pills, seeing her shower, and putting her in solitary confinement without clothing as punishment.

The socialite and reality star also spoke about the abuse in the documentary “This is Paris” released late last year.

Hilton testified at a Senate Committee hearing in the Utah Capitol in favor of the bill that would require more government oversight of residential youth treatment centers and require them to document when restrictions apply. The measure was unanimously approved after the emotional statement from Hilton and several other survivors.

“Talking about something so personal was and still is frightening”Hilton told the committee. But I can’t go to sleep at night knowing that there are other kids who are experiencing the same abuse as I am and that so many more have been through, and neither are you. ‘

Hilton, 39, said the treatment she received was so ‘traumatic’ that she suffered from nightmares and insomnia for years.

The Provo facility is under new ownership, and management has said it cannot comment on anything that happened before the change, including when Hilton was there. A statement on the school’s site states that the previous owners sold it in 2000.

Since the documentary was released, other celebrities have spoken about their experiences at that same or similar school, including the daughter of Michael Jackson, Paris Jackson, and the tattoo artist Kat by D.

During his statement, Hilton asked the president Joe Biden and Congress leaders to take action, saying they are trying to push for a federal law.

“This is just the first step”Hilton told reporters. “This initiative is certainly going to help a lot of children, but clearly there is more work to be done and I will not stop until the change happens.”