Utah Boarding School Loses License Amid Abuse Allegations
A boarding school in Utah, where Paris Hilton claimed she experienced abuse as a teenager, has had its license revoked by state regulators. The Provo Canyon School's Springville campus was cited for several noncompliance issues, including unnecessary restraint, aggressive physical contact, and neglect, dating back to 2025.
Paris Hilton has been an outspoken critic of the school and has campaigned for its closure. She testified before Congress about her experiences there in the 1990s, stating that the facility "failed the children in its care." The school has announced it is considering an appeal against the decision.
The school, which describes itself as an intensive psychiatric youth residential treatment center for girls aged 12 to 18, must terminate all services by August 6, as per the Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The DHHS cited the school's failure to provide necessary health and safety services for its clients, leading to the cancellation of its residential treatment license. The school has a 15-day window to contest the decision.
In a statement to the BBC, Paris Hilton, now 45, expressed her relief at the state's action, saying, "For more than fifty years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma. Today, the state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care. I was one of those children." She emphasized the importance of holding institutions accountable, stating that change is possible when survivors speak out.
School officials have told local media that they are "evaluating all available legal and administrative options, including an appeal." They stated their ongoing commitment to providing "safe, high-quality care and support for adolescents and their families."
The Provo Canyon School has faced demands for closure from Hilton and other former residents. Complaints were made to the state's licensing agency in the previous month, prompting action. In June, health officials imposed temporary restrictions on the boys' campus in Provo, Utah, prohibiting new admissions.
An investigation into the boys' campus revealed staff failures to protect a boy during a fight and to provide immediate medical care for his injuries. Despite these issues, the campus continues to serve current residents.
Paris Hilton's time at the Springville school in the 1990s, when it was under different ownership, has been a focal point of her advocacy. In a documentary released in 2020, she alleged mistreatment, including physical assault, forced medication, and solitary confinement in behavior reform programs. Hilton's parents were reportedly promised that "tough love" would help reform her behavior.
The hotel heiress has become a vocal advocate against the "troubled teen industry," testifying before Congress in 2024 and state legislatures to push for laws protecting teens from these private, for-profit centers aimed at children with behavioral issues.
Source: BBC News
