Paris Hilton is opening up about the deep bond she shares with Britney Spears, saying their decades-long friendship is rooted in a shared understanding of what it means to be a young woman under intense public scrutiny in the early 2000s.
Speaking on I’ve never said that before with Tommy DiDario on Thursday, January 29, Hilton reflected on a recent conversation she had with Spears while celebrating the singer’s birthday in Mexico.
According to Hilton, the two spent time talking about the harshness and ruthlessness of the culture around famous women during that era.
“I was with Britney a few weeks ago for her birthday in Mexico and we were talking about how cruel and petty people were back then,” Hilton said.
“And he’s someone who can understand that. Very few people can. It’s made us both so strong.”
Hilton, 44, said these shared experiences created a lasting bond between them, based on an empathy that few others could truly understand.
When asked what advice she would give to her younger self, Hilton opened up about how that time left her feeling isolated.
“Back then, it was fun to tear women down. It was very isolating,” she said, before sharing the message she wishes she could send back in time.
“If I were to go back and talk to my younger self, I would say, ‘Paris, you’re going to go through a lot in life and sometimes it’s going to be so difficult and scary and hard, but one day it’s going to be worth it.'”
She added that these struggles ultimately shaped her goal.
“Because you will inspire millions, you will create a role model and make your pain your goal and help save the lives of children, women and survivors everywhere.”
Hilton and Spears, who are both now 44, have been friends since their early 20s and have spoken frequently about their relationship over the years.
In November 2024, Hilton marked the 18th anniversary of the moment she and Spears jokingly credited each other with “inventing the selfie,” a nod to their impact on pop culture at the height of their fame.
Spears also discussed their friendship in her 2023 memoir, The woman in mewriting that their time together “was never as crazy as the press made it out to be”, and thanking Hilton for supporting her over the years.
The same year, Hilton publicly praised Spears for sharing her story.
She said PEOPLE she was “so proud” of the singer for opening up in the memoir, highlighting how difficult but healing the process can be.
“I know how difficult it can be to write a memoir because you really have to dive in and think about so many moments in your life that I’m sure you don’t even want to think about,” Hilton said.
“But it really is such a healing experience.”
Hilton added at the time: “I’m just proud of how strong she is.”
The media personality appeared on DiDario’s podcast to promote his new documentary, Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoirthe premiere of which will be Friday January 30.
She has previously described the project as a way to encourage others to accept who they are, take control of their own story and create meaningful change.
