Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Guess Who Collect Called Barbara Walters?
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 11, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Jun 11, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Barbara Walters may not have the controversy-ratings dervish Rosie O'Donnell on the roster of The View anymore, but what she does have is her reputation as the go-to interview for many celebrities. Last week, it was announced that Paris Hilton would be giving her first post-jailhouse interviewed with Babs. One release and re-jailing later, Hilton called Walters collect.
Hilton told Walters, "I used to act dumb. That act is no longer cute. Now, I would like to make a difference. ... God has given me this new chance." And on her first stint in the pokey: "I was not eating or sleeping. I was severely depressed and felt as if I was in a cage. ... It was a horrible experience." Hmm, is Paris reading from statements written by the same person who wrote Paris's pre-jail statement about needing to take "more of an active role in the decisions" she makes?
And how did Paris come about calling Walters? Fate: Walters was on the phone with Paris' mother Kathy Hilton, and Kathy received a call from Paris on another line: "When told that Kathy was talking to Walters, Paris said she'd like to speak to Walters herself. Walters then agreed to accept a collect call from Paris in jail. All prisoners are required to call collect. "
Walters will be revealing more about her chat with Paris on The View this morning; we really wish Rosie O'Donnell were there to analyze Hilton - we'll have to rely on Joy Behar to take Paris to town.
Tagged
barbara walters
celebrities
interview
joy behar
paris
paris hilton
Rosie O
Rosie O'Donnell
the view
us
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
Published Oct 8, 2026
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?
If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.
By
James Ramsay
What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.
By
Jayson Greene
Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City
By
Sonia Rao
Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries
By
Alec Hamilton
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .