By George Rush
Daily News Columnist

That infamous sex tape of Paris Hilton finally has accomplished the seemingly impossible: It has made her blush.

"I feel embarrassed [and] humiliated," said the wild-child hotel heiress yesterday, speaking out for the first time about the shame the X-rated controversy has brought upon her and her famous family.

The 22-year-old said she regrets having made the tape "especially because my parents and the other people who love me have been hurt."

Hilton has become the butt of endless late-night TV jokes since an Internet porn company obtained a copy of the video she made three years ago with then-boyfriend Rick Salomon.

"I was in an intimate relationship, never, ever thinking that my foolish actions would become public," she said.

Hilton's father, Rick - who has been criticized for letting Paris (as well as 20-year-old sister Nicky) lead a wild party life around the world - also came forward yesterday to say he was upset by the revelations, but stood behind her.

Friends also said he and his wife, Kathy, have been trying for years to help their party-loving daughter overcome drinking and behavioral problems.

Last week, Salomon filed a $10 million slander lawsuit against Paris, the Hilton family and their spokeswoman.

He charged the young socialite was an "active participant" in the video but that she and her family have tried to portray him as someone "who took advantage of an incapacitated young woman." He says Hilton spoke to the camera - and even stopped to answer her phone.

Salomon also has sued Seattle-based Marvad Corp. for distributing footage from the video.

Hilton is due to debut on Dec.2 in Fox's new reality series "The Simple Life" - in which she leaves the big-city social swirl to live on a farm.

Gag. There's nothing worse than a tarnished celebutante recanting her acts of decadence. What century is it? This sort of backing away from the sex-and-drugs car crash was media-mandatory back in the old days. But this is supposed to be the new millenium, a shame-free era of bad behavior and sexual self-acceptance. Paris Hilton, the star of a reality-show, is turning against reality, joining the tired likes of Hugh Grant. If she would only just say "fuck you" to her controlling parents and renounce whatever money she couldn't steal before they disinherited her, she'd be our hero forever.

excerpted from:
"'Embarrassed & humiliated'
Paris burning with shame"
By GEORGE RUSH
NY Daily News November 18, 2003
Photo: McAlin for NEWS