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Paris Hilton has responded to criticism of her family's Beauty and the Beast Halloween costumes, explaining that her decision to dress as Princess Belle was influenced by her young daughter's own choice of character.
The socialite and television personality revealed the family's coordinated Disney inspired costumes in an Instagram photoshoot on October 26. The pictures showed Hilton transformed into Belle, her husband Carter Reum dressed as the Beast, their daughter London portraying Chip the enchanted teacup, and their son Phoenix appearing as Lumière the candelabra.
However, the costumes attracted criticism from some social media users who questioned why Hilton had taken the role of Belle instead of allowing her daughter to dress as the film's leading princess.
Hilton addressed the reaction in an Instagram Reel on October 27, explaining that Beauty and the Beast was one of her children's favourite films and that London had specifically requested to dress as Chip.
According to Hilton, her daughter identified Chip as her favourite character and wanted to wear the costume herself. Hilton's explanation challenged the assumption that she had deliberately taken a coveted role away from her child.
The family's costumes were carefully coordinated. Hilton, 45, temporarily traded her familiar blonde appearance for a brown wig and wore a gold ballgown decorated with red rose accents. Matching elbow length gloves completed her interpretation of Belle.
Reum complemented his wife's outfit with a Beast mask, furry gloves and boots, alongside his regal costume. Their daughter wore a colourful dress featuring Chip's face, a purple bow in her hair and pink Velcro sneakers.
Phoenix, meanwhile, dressed as Lumière, the animated candelabra known for his welcoming personality and memorable invitation to guests.
Hilton celebrated the family moment online with the caption, "My life is a fairytale, and the magic never ends." She also shared behind the scenes footage showing Phoenix and London playing together before settling down for photographs.
The clips offered a glimpse into the children's relationship, including affectionate moments between the siblings. Hilton has previously spoken about their close bond, describing them as constantly connected and praising Phoenix for being protective of his younger sister.
The children were born via surrogate approximately 11 months apart. Hilton and Reum have frequently shared glimpses of family life on social media, presenting their experiences as a source of happiness and personal fulfilment.
The Halloween controversy illustrates how even carefully planned family celebrations can become subjects of public debate when shared online. In this case, the discussion centred on whether a parent should portray a prominent character when a young child chooses a different role.
Hilton's response emphasised that the costumes were based on the family's shared enjoyment of the film rather than an attempt to claim the spotlight. Her explanation also highlighted a simple detail that critics may have overlooked: London wanted to be Chip.
For Hilton, the family photoshoot was intended to celebrate imagination, childhood preferences and the joy of dressing up together. The reaction, however, shows how celebrity family moments can quickly become broader conversations about parenting and social media expectations.
