Paris Hilton opens up about sex tape regrets: 'I was only 18 and I wish I never met him'

Paris Hilton attends the premiere of Focus Features' "The Beguiled" at Directors Guild Of America on June 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Socialite Paris Hilton arrives to the VH1 Big in 04 at the Shrine Auditorium on December 1, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Paris Hilton arrives at the Rock And Republic Collection Spring 2005 show at Culver City Studios during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week October 29, 2004 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Paris Hilton attends MTV's TRL at the MTV Time Square Studio on September 9, 2004 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)

Socialite Paris Hilton poses at the Heatherette fashion show during 2004 Olympus Fashion Week on September 8, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

US socialite Paris Hilton poses as she arrives for the amfAR's 24th Cinema Against AIDS Gala on May 25, 2017 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes, France. / AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

Paris Hilton attends the premiere of Focus Features' "The Beguiled" at Directors Guild Of America on June 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Socialite Paris Hilton arrives to the VH1 Big in 04 at the Shrine Auditorium on December 1, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Paris Hilton arrives at the Rock And Republic Collection Spring 2005 show at Culver City Studios during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week October 29, 2004 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Paris Hilton attends MTV's TRL at the MTV Time Square Studio on September 9, 2004 in New York City, New York. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images)

Paris Hilton in 2000

Socialite Paris Hilton poses at the Heatherette fashion show during 2004 Olympus Fashion Week on September 8, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

US socialite Paris Hilton poses as she arrives for the amfAR's 24th Cinema Against AIDS Gala on May 25, 2017 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes, France. / AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

Paris Hilton in 2000

Paris Hilton attends the premiere of Focus Features' "The Beguiled" at Directors Guild Of America on June 12, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)

Caitlin McBride Twitter Email

August 16 2017 08:15 AM

Paris Hilton has given an emotional interview about her leaked sex tape, revealing she could have been like Princess Diana before his name was tarnished with its release.

The tape was recorded in 2001 with Hilton, then 19, and her ex-boyfriend Solomon, then 33, without her knowledge and subsequently released in 2003. Critics noted the suspicious timing of its release, just weeks before her show The Simple Life was set to debut, but Paris has set the record straight 14 years later and the topic still brings tears to her eyes.

Hilton insists she never made a profit from the tape, which Solomon reported earned $10 million for and her early career trajectory was blemished with the release - One Night in Paris.

"That's one thing that really pisses me off when I hear it, because I never, ever received one dollar from that video. That is the last thing that I would want out there," she told Marie Claire in a new profile.

Paris Hilton in 2000

"It's really hurtful, because my whole life I really looked up to Princess Diana, all these elegant, amazing women, and I feel like [Salomon] just took that all away from me. I could have been like that, but because of that tape, I will always be judged and thought of as whatever they say about me because of a private moment between my boyfriend and me.

"I wish I had never met him. That is actually the one regret in my life. I wish that I had never met that guy. I could not leave my house for months. I was so depressed, humiliated. I didn't want to be seen in public."

These days, Paris, who is dating The Leftovers star Chris Zylka, has built an empire to rival her family's legacy with a successful perfume line and handbag line worth $3bn.

And she credits the ditzy blonde persona to the producers of The Simple Life.

Paris Hilton in 2000

"So the producers just said, 'Act spoiled, a kind of blonde airhead.' I did that and then I realized it was a brand, so I played along with it. And when I felt shy, I would just do it."

"Now I actually think it's cuter to be intelligent and to have a normal, low, sexy voice. Now when I hear the baby voice, I want to punch myself."

Socialite Paris Hilton poses at the Heatherette fashion show during 2004 Olympus Fashion Week on September 8, 2004 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

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US socialite Paris Hilton poses as she arrives for the amfAR's 24th Cinema Against AIDS Gala on May 25, 2017 at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d'Antibes, France. / AFP PHOTO / ALBERTO PIZZOLI