New York, November 17, 2025 – In a candid new interview that has reignited discussions about the shadowy underbelly of early-2000s New York high society, socialite-turned-entrepreneur Paris Hilton has firmly dismissed long-standing reports that Ghislaine Maxwell once targeted her as a potential recruit for Jeffrey Epstein's notorious sex-trafficking network. The 44-year-old heiress, now a mother of two and vocal advocate for youth welfare reforms, stated unequivocally that she has no memory of ever encountering Maxwell, attributing the persistent rumors to her enduring status as media "clickbait."
Hilton's remarks, published in the latest edition of The Sunday Times Magazine, come amid a fresh wave of scrutiny over Epstein's elite connections, fueled by President Donald Trump's recent reversal on the release of thousands of pages from the disgraced financier's files. These documents, amassed during federal investigations into Epstein's crimes, include victim interviews, seized materials from his properties, and correspondence spanning 2011 to 2019 that frequently references Trump himself. Trump, who once described the Hilton family as "friends" through decades of overlapping real estate and social circles, urged House Republicans to unseal the files earlier this week, framing the disclosures as a necessary purge of partisan attacks rather than a shield against personal scrutiny. Over 20,000 pages have already been made public from Epstein's estate, painting a grim picture of a man whose influence ensnared politicians, celebrities, and business tycoons in a web of exploitation.
The allegations linking Hilton to Epstein trace back to a vivid anecdote shared in 2020 by Christopher Mason, a British journalist and longtime acquaintance of Maxwell's dating to the 1980s. In an interview for Lifetime's docuseries Surviving Jeffrey Epstein, Mason recounted a party scene in New York around the year 2000, where Maxwell—then in her late 30s and deeply entangled with Epstein—allegedly froze upon spotting the then-19-year-old Hilton. "A friend of mine was at a party and Ghislaine said: 'Oh my god, who is that?' and was looking at this pretty, younger teenage girl," Mason recalled. When informed of the girl's identity, Maxwell reportedly exclaimed, "Ohhhh she'd be perfect for Jeffrey. Can you introduce us?"
Mason did not specify the exact venue or date of the encounter, but contextual clues point to the vibrant nightlife scene of turn-of-the-millennium Manhattan, where Hilton was emerging as an "It Girl" after signing with Donald Trump's T Management modeling agency. That same year, on September 18, 2000, a now-iconic photograph captured the trio—Hilton sandwiched between a grinning Trump and a sunglassed Maxwell—at the Anand Jon Fashion Show in New York City. The image, often cited in Epstein-related coverage, underscores the overlapping social orbits of these figures, though Hilton has repeatedly emphasized no deeper ties existed.
At the time, Mason noted, Maxwell's behavior raised eyebrows but was dismissed in elite circles as merely "a bit naughty." He described widespread "rumors" that Maxwell was "scouring New York finding younger girls to go on dates with Jeffrey," a practice that later formed the crux of her federal indictment. Epstein and Maxwell's romantic relationship had begun in the early 1990s, shortly after Maxwell relocated to New York following the mysterious death of her father, media mogul Robert Maxwell, whose financial empire collapsed amid fraud allegations. What contemporaries viewed as an eccentric pairing soon revealed itself as a partnership in predation, with Maxwell evolving into Epstein's "chief recruiter" for a scheme that groomed and trafficked underage girls for sexual abuse.
Epstein's 2019 arrest on federal sex-trafficking charges exposed the full horror of his operation, which spanned decades and targeted vulnerable teens at social events, modeling agencies, and even high schools. He died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial, but the probe continued, leading to Maxwell's 2021 conviction on five counts, including sex trafficking of a minor and conspiracy to entice minors to travel for illegal sex acts. At her high-profile trial in New York, prosecutors portrayed Maxwell as both facilitator and participant, presenting testimony from victims who detailed recruitment tactics eerily similar to Mason's party anecdote: promises of career opportunities, lavish introductions, and gradual grooming. In June 2022, she was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, a term upheld on appeal in September 2024 despite her ongoing claims of innocence. Now 63, Maxwell remains incarcerated at a low-security facility in Florida, where recent reports suggest she is quietly lobbying for sentence reduction, possibly leveraging political channels tied to Trump.
Hilton, reflecting on the resurfaced claims in her Sunday Times profile, expressed a mix of bemusement and resignation. "I don't even remember ever meeting her," she said, before adding with characteristic wry humor, "I'm such a good clickbait name." The interview, which doubles as a promotional piece for her expanding 11:11 Media empire—a lifestyle brand encompassing fragrances, jewelry, and digital content—also touches on Hilton's advocacy work. She has testified before Congress on the abuses she endured in the "troubled teen" industry and continues to champion reforms against youth mistreatment, drawing parallels to the very vulnerabilities Epstein exploited.
Hilton's denial aligns with her broader narrative of selective amnesia regarding the era's excesses, a period when tabloids feasted on her every move—from The Simple Life antics to high-profile romances. Yet, the Epstein-Maxwell saga has a way of dredging up uncomfortable intersections; the 2000 fashion show photo, for instance, not only places her alongside Maxwell and Trump but also evokes the era's blurred lines between glamour and predation. Legal experts note that while Hilton's name appears in no unsealed Epstein documents as a victim or participant, the mere association amplifies calls for transparency in the ongoing file releases.
As Trump's push for the "Epstein files" gains bipartisan momentum—despite initial Republican resistance—the disclosures could unearth more names from that glittering, tainted world. Victims' advocates, including those featured in Surviving Jeffrey Epstein, hail the potential for closure but warn against sensationalism that overshadows survivor stories. For Hilton, the episode serves as a stark reminder of fame's double edge: a shield against obscurity, but a magnet for speculation. "I've built something real now," she told The Sunday Times, shifting focus to her family life with husband Carter Reum and their two children, Phoenix and London.
The Epstein scandal, five years after his death, continues to ripple through American culture, prompting reflections on power, privilege, and the girls caught in their crosshairs. Hilton's poised rebuttal underscores a personal evolution—from party fixture to purposeful matriarch—while underscoring the enduring quest for accountability in a story that refuses to fade.
