Paris Hilton has responded to critics who accused her of upstaging her own children with an elaborate Belle costume in the family’s Beauty and the Beast Halloween photoshoot.
Hilton, 43, shared the coordinated family portraits on Instagram last week, wearing a custom-made, rose-accented yellow ballgown by designer Danyul Brown. Her husband, Carter Reum, 43, appeared as the Beast in a full mask, fuzzy gloves and blue suit, while their two young children were cast as supporting household objects from the classic fairytale.
The couple’s 3-year-old son, Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum, born in January 2023, dressed as the living candlestick Lumière. Their 2-year-old daughter, London Marilyn Hilton Reum, born in November 2023, appeared as the teapot Mrs. Potts. The family staged the shoot as a 2026 pre-Halloween collaboration, with Hilton positioned at center stage in glowing princess attire.
Hilton embraced the moment in her caption, writing:
“My life is a fairytale, and the magic never ends.”
The casting choice drew playful scrutiny online, with some social media users joking that the elaborate nature of her outfit relegated her children to afterthought status. One poster on X wrote:
“Her poor kids are just side characters. That little girl’s disappointed face.”
Another added that “the kids outfits were just an afterthought.”
A third commenter weighed in with “your props look bored,” referring to her kids and husband.
However, the reaction was not uniformly negative. One follower offered support, writing:
“I love your Halloween costumes every year! They’re always amazing.”
Hilton and Reum, an entrepreneur and author, wed in November 2021. The family of four has made coordinated Halloween costumes an annual tradition, with this year’s Disney-themed shoot marking their latest collaborative effort.
The criticism echoes a broader pattern of public fascination with Hilton’s parenting choices since she transitioned from tabloid fixture to family-focused cultural figure. In February, PEOPLE interviewed Hilton regarding her documentary release, Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir, which documents her experiences raising two young children while maintaining an extensive travel and work schedule.
Discussing the demanding pace of the project, Hilton remarked that the schedule had been intense and continuous. She expressed gratitude for her work and described finding renewed strength through spending time and cuddling with her children.
The Beauty and the Beast shoot represents the latest chapter in Hilton’s ongoing public narrative, one that has seen her evolve from a heavily followed celebrity personality to an influential figure navigating motherhood under sustained media attention. The custom Danyul Brown gown, with its rose detailing and full skirt, required significant planning and coordination, reflecting the same meticulous approach Hilton has applied to her recent creative endeavors.
The divided online response highlights the persistent scrutiny faced by celebrity parents, particularly those with established public personas predating their family lives. While some viewers interpreted the costume hierarchy as lighthearted fun, others read darker undertones into the visual arrangement, with the term “Next-Level Narcissistic” circulating among critical commenters.
Hilton has not issued a direct response to the backlash beyond her original enthusiastic caption, maintaining her characteristic posture of unapologetic enthusiasm for staged personal moments.
Hilton’s documentary Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir continues to stream on platforms following its release earlier this year.