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Drew Barrymore tells Paris Hilton ‘I’ve been where you’ve been’

Getty Images
Getty Images

With her newly-released YouTube documentary, Paris Hilton has found herself in the spotlight even more than usual. The socialite turned reality TV star has been especially vocal about the abuse that she alleges she experienced as a teen while attending boarding school at Provo Canyon in Utah.

And on Monday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, actress and host, Drew Barrymore, told Hilton that she’s not alone in being sent away and even locked in solitary confinement.

“I’ve been where you’ve been,” said Barrymore, 45, who noted that she has known Hilton, 39, since they were kids.

Paris Hilton on The Drew Barrymore Show (via YouTube)
Paris Hilton on The Drew Barrymore Show (via YouTube)

“Watching your documentary, I don’t know how many interviews and conversations I’m going to have on this show where I’m watching a mirror image of everything I’ve been through as well,” she continued.

“I’ve had the people come and take me away, I’ve been locked up in solitary confinement. I’ve been in a place for lengthy periods of time - we’re talking a year, year-and-a-half plus. I haven’t seen a kind of story like this reflected out there very often, that’s one I recognize so deeply,” Barrymore revealed before asking Hilton why she decided to come forward with her story now.

Hilton explained that the documentary was originally meant to cover her work, only, but during filming, she became close to the director who encouraged her to come forward. “She told me, ‘This is so important that you tell your story because you’re going to help other survivors,’” Hilton recalled.

Drew Barrymore and Paris Hilton (via YouTube)
Drew Barrymore and Paris Hilton (via YouTube)

“It was hard just to relive and have to remember all of these traumatic experiences that I tried so hard to forget. But I’ve had severe nightmares since I was a teenager because of this,” she said.

“Basically, I just was trying to look like I had the perfect life, and I was embarrassed for people to know. And I now know that I shouldn’t be ashamed, the people who work at these places, who are abusing children, are the ones who should be ashamed.”

Barrymore, whose mother put her in rehab and a mental institution in her early teens, shared that she didn’t experience abuse, and as an adult, is actually grateful for that time.

“I have to tell you, the people at my place were really good. I didn’t like being thrown in solitary confinement,” Barrymore said.

Drew Barrymore (via YouTube)
Drew Barrymore (via YouTube)

“I will say that I was very rebellious. I started riots there all the time and there were a lot of other kids like me. My mom just didn’t know what to do with me - I was doing drugs, I was out of control - she just threw her hands up and threw me in there not knowing where else to turn to,” Barrymore explained. “That place really did help me, and it did save my life, and I actually wouldn’t change a thing.”

While Hilton noted that she experienced trust issues and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder in the years that followed, she’s now in “the best place I’ve ever been in in my life.”

Adding that she’s excited for the future and hopes to start a family, she also shared that she wants to help other survivors of abuse. “We’re starting a movement called Breaking Code Silence, where survivors are going to tell their stories,” Hilton.