‘I don’t regret it’: Why Paris Hilton and her ex broke up

Now a mother of two and wife to Carter Reum, Paris in Love star Paris Hilton has had quite a life in the spotlight. She’s the daughter of child actress and RHOBH cast member Kathy Hilton and heiress to the Hilton hotel fortune, so it’s no surprise that she’s had people watching her every move since she was young. But this time it’s her ex, actor Chris Zylka, that’s getting attention as he opens up about why the two of them broke up in 2018.

Before Paris Hilton married Carter Reum and shared their relationship on her latest reality show, she was engaged to The Leftovers star Chris Zylka. Although Paris called herself “the luckiest girl in the world” following her Aspen engagement and massive 22 carat diamond ring, the pair called their engagement off and ended their relationship in 2018.

While a guest on Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide, Chris Zylka revealed the reason the two of them broke up and what he “doesn’t regret” choosing over love.

Chris Zylka chose work over engagement to Paris Hilton

Relationships are never easy and when they’re between two celebrities that each have their own career, priorities, and fan bases, they can be even harder. Unfortunately for Chris Zylka and Paris Hilton, the two of them learned that their priorities just weren’t compatible, but Chris Zylka says he doesn’t regret choosing to prioritize his career over his engagement.

“It was a huge wakeup call that performance art is super important to me and the camaraderie and the family that you grow on each and every set,” he said when discussing the fact that working was just “not a choice” for him at that point in their relationship with the reality star who wanted him to take a step back from Hollywood and focus on their relationship.

Even though Chris Zylka chose life in front of the camera over being engaged to Paris Hilton, he admits that he has no problems with her and that there’s no bad blood between the two of them after their breakup.

"I’ve never been able to apologize to her for not being grateful for the experience and all the she did for me. Because she’s the one relationship that I’ve ever had that there was no take. It was all give. It was really lovely."

In addition to saying that he looks back on their relationship with nothing but positive feelings, Chris Zylka said that seeing Paris Hilton thriving as a wife, mom, DJ, and reality star “warms [his] heart” and that he thinks she’s a “wonderful” person.

Likewise, Paris Hilton looks back on calling off her engagement to Chris Zylka as a positive thing, too. While speaking with Cosmopolitan UK for their April 2020 cover story, she opened up about how not following through with her marriage to Chris Zylka was “the best decision” she’s ever made and that he just “wasn’t the right person” for the heiress.

"I feel like I’m an incredible woman and I deserve someone so amazing. It just didn’t feel right. I’ve worked way too hard to just give my life to someone. They have to be perfect."

Luckily for the two of them, it seems like they each got what they wanted out of their relationship, even if it didn’t mean staying together forever. For Paris Hilton, it looks like she found someone “perfect” in Carter Reum. And for Chris Zylka, choosing to stay in Hollywood and continue his acting career has worked out perfectly for him as he’s gone on to continue working and living his dream.