Paris Hilton speaks on the traumatic experience of having her sex tape leaked

If there’s anything the youth of today enjoy more than a new Drake leak, it’s memes. The phenomenon have become a cultural staple, and some have gone on to find more enjoyment in a “dank ass meme” than they might find in a genuine social interaction. Perhaps it’s merely a sign of the times. Either way, director Bert Marcus has put the meme under the microscope with his new documentary The American Meme, which featured somebody else who spent time as one of the internet’s most searched subjects – Paris Hilton.

Back in 2004, Hilton found one of her most private moments broadcast to millions of people, when a sex tape leaked online. Throughout the documentary, Paris opens up about the traumatic experience, and lack of empathy revealed throughout. “It was like being raped,” she said, as revealed by USA Today. “It felt like I’d lost part of my soul and been talked about in such cruel and mean ways. I literally wanted to die at some points. I was like, ‘I just don’t want to live,’ because I thought everything was taken away from me. I didn’t want to be known as that.”

Sometimes, the internet can be a cruel place. Luckily, Paris has since bounced back. The former Simple Life star and brief pop star has her upcoming marriage to look forward to, as well as her ongoing stint as a DJ.

“I’m very excited for the next phase of my life and to start a family and find true happiness,” Hilton said. “Because yes, this is so much fun. I love what I’m doing, it’s great being in Ibiza every summer DJing until eight in the morning, but sometimes it gets a little tiring. I’m still going to continue being the girl boss I am, but I’m also going to be a mom, and I can’t wait for that day.”