Paris Hilton reportedly canceled 17 interviews over four months while journalist Jonathan Van Meter worked on Kim Kardashian’s authorized biography, Citizen Kim. The repeated cancellations frustrated Van Meter and reportedly left Kardashian furious, reviving questions about the longtime acquaintances’ complicated history.
Van Meter discussed the experience in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. He explained how an interview that never happened became a memorable part of his research, with Kardashian’s reaction suggesting that their shared past still carried some unresolved frustration.
Kim Kardashian’s reaction revived questions about her history with Paris Hilton
Van Meter recalled approaching Kardashian about interviewing Hilton late in the research process. He explained, “Kim checked and said Paris agreed, but I had to go through her publicist.” The arrangement stood out because, as he noted, “With everybody else, Kim just sent a text.”
Van Meter then sent questions and contacted Hilton’s assistant to arrange the conversation. However, after 17 cancellations over approximately four months, Van Meter began to see the situation differently. He said, “Eventually I thought the cancellations were more interesting than whatever she’d tell me.”
Kardashian’s response was particularly revealing. Recalling their conversation, Van Meter said, “Kim was so mad when I told her. It seemed to stir up some ancient irritation between them.”
Van Meter summarized the apparent shift in their relationship with the phrase, “The creation turning on the creator.” His description pointed to Hilton’s early influence on Kardashian’s public life and the distance between their positions in the entertainment industry today.
Kardashian and Hilton became friends in the early 2000s, when Kardashian worked as Hilton’s stylist and closet organizer. Hilton was already a recognizable socialite and reality television personality, while Kardashian had yet to achieve widespread fame.
Kardashian later rose to prominence through Keeping Up With the Kardashians and developed successful beauty and fashion businesses. Hilton also expanded her career beyond reality television into entrepreneurship, music, and other ventures.
Van Meter did not explain why Hilton canceled the interviews, but the incident brought old tensions between her and Kardashian back into focus. Their shared past remains part of their story despite their separate careers.
Citizen Kim: The Woman Who Created the Future hits shelves on October 27.
