WEST HOLLYWOOD — Kathy Hilton will no longer serve as the Grand Marshal Icon for the West Hollywood Pride Parade. The City of West Hollywood, the WeHo Pride production team, and Hilton announced the decision in a joint statement released Wednesday.
Hilton was initially announced as the parade's Grand Marshal Icon in late May. Following the announcement, some online commentators opposed the selection, citing Hilton's alleged social ties to President Donald Trump and MAGA affiliations. Critics also referenced a 2022 allegation that Hilton directed a homophobic slur at a DJ during a television filming trip to Aspen, Colorado.
YouTube star and LGBTQ activist Tyler Oakley stated, "I'm curious why Kathy Hilton was chosen considering the last I heard about her she was attending Trump's parties and calling a DJ an antigay slur." In 2022, the network airing the show initiated an investigation into the alleged slur incident, which concluded without a definitive finding. Hilton has denied the allegation.
Indigenous Pride LA announced it would withdraw from the 2026 West Hollywood Pride Parade following Hilton's selection. An Indigenous Pride LA Board statement read, "Many within our Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and Indigenous LGBTQPAI+ circles feel this year's Grand Marshal choice does not align with the values, lived experiences, and spirit of Pride we seek to uplift."
Hilton cited her support for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, God's Love We Deliver, and Project Angel Food in a published statement. She said, "This monumentally important event has always had a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the experience I had acting as Grand Marshal of the LA Pride parade with my daughter in 2005. Thank you to everyone who works so hard to make it happen, and I wish the community nothing but love, joy, and a fantastic WeHo Pride weekend."