Kathy Hilton Steps Down as Grand Marshal of WeHo Pride 4 Days Before Parade After ‘Feedback’ from Community

NEED TO KNOW

• Kathy Hilton will no longer serve as the Grand Marshal Icon honoree for the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade

• The City of West Hollywood said Hilton, parade organizers and city officials mutually agreed to forgo the designation following community feedback

• Hilton said her support for the LGBTQ+ community remains “unwavering” and wished attendees “a fantastic WeHo Pride weekend”

Kathy Hilton will no longer serve as the Grand Marshal Icon honoree for the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade, she and officials announced four days before the annual celebration.

In a joint statement shared by the City of West Hollywood and WeHo Pride organizers on Wednesday, June 4, officials revealed that after “thoughtful discussions,” Hilton, 67, and parade organizers had mutually agreed that the parade would not designate a Grand Marshal Icon honoree this year.

“The announcement of Kathy Hilton as Grand Marshal Icon for the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade has generated a range of perspectives across our community,” the statement read. “In recent days, community members have shared thoughtful feedback regarding the role and significance of Pride honorees.”

The city said it was “grateful for the respectful and sincere dialogue that has taken place,” adding that the conversations “underscore the importance of ensuring that WeHo Pride continues to honor the history, values and diverse voices of the LGBTQ+ community.”

“As Pride has always belonged to the community, after thoughtful discussions, the City of West Hollywood, the WeHo Pride production team, and Kathy Hilton have determined that the 2026 WeHo Pride Parade will not designate a Grand Marshal Icon honoree,” the statement continued.

Hilton also addressed the decision directly.

“I am honored to have been considered for this recognition and appreciative of the support I have received from members of the community throughout the years,” she said. “My reason for wanting to be involved in this year’s WeHo Pride weekend was simple: to celebrate, support, and share in the joy of a community that means a great deal to so many people.”

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum emphasized her longtime support of LGBTQ+ causes, noting her involvement with GLAAD initiatives and events as well as organizations including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, God’s Love We Deliver and Project Angel Food. “My support for the community and WeHo Pride is unwavering,” Hilton added. “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.”

She concluded by thanking organizers and wishing attendees “nothing but love, joy, and a fantastic WeHo Pride weekend.”

The City of West Hollywood and WeHo Pride organizers thanked Hilton for her “grace” and support. “WeHo Pride is strengthened by open dialogue, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to inclusion,” the statement read.

WeHo Pride organizers announced Hilton for the event on Thursday, May 28. Some Instagram users expressed their frustrations under the post over the organization not tapping “someone in our community” for the grand marshal title, questioning what Hilton has “done for the community,” and calling her a “very odd choice.” Others referenced a past controversy when Hilton was accused in 2022 by her former RHOBH costars of using a gay slur, which she has denied.

Read the original article on People