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Utah moves to close boarding school where Paris Hilton says she was abused as a teen

State orders Provo Canyon School to close by August 6 after a history of safety failures; Hilton calls the decision a long-awaited victory for survivors

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Paris Hilton protests outside Provo Canyon School, where she says she suffered abuse as a teenager, in Springville, Utah. Photo: AP
Associated Press

The US state of Utah has revoked the licence of a boarding school where socialite Paris Hilton said she was abused as a teenager, saying the school has “failed to provide applicable health and safety services for clients”.

The state’s action, which took effect on Monday, cites multiple non-compliance issues against Provo Canyon School’s campus in Springville. The school has 15 days to request a hearing before the Department of Health & Human Services.

The wide-ranging citations, which go back to 2025, include failing to increase staff-to-client ratios, engaging in an unnecessary restraint and aggressive physical contact with a client, neglecting care, and not verifying employee information or submitting background checks for applicants in a timely manner.

State health officials imposed temporary restrictions on the school in May, saying staff did not seek immediate medical care for a pupil with serious injuries.

“For more than 50 years, children came forward with stories of abuse, neglect, and trauma,” Hilton said in a statement provided on Tuesday.

“Today, the state confirmed what survivors have known all along: Provo Canyon School failed the children in its care.

Paris Hilton spent almost a year at the school. Photo: AP
Paris Hilton spent almost a year at the school. Photo: AP
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