Paris Hilton claims she invented the selfie… Twitter says otherwise

She was quickly shut down.

Paris Hilton is responsible for many a cultural trend over the years. From the rise of velour tracksuits to the momentary popularity of wearing your flip phone on the waistband of your jeans – yes, Paris has a lot to claim responsibility for. However, when she took to Twitter earlier today to claim that she had ‘invented’ the selfie, followers were less than impressed. Sharing some throwback selfies with Britney Spears from 2006, the heiress said:

“11 years ago today, me and Britney invented the selfie.”

11 years ago today, Me & Britney invented the selfie! pic.twitter.com/1byOU5Gp8J

— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) November 19, 2017

Paris’ post quickly garnered a lot of attention with many laughing off the claim. However, there were other determined souls who went to the effort of finding proof to discredit Paris’ post. Sharing pictures from 1999 as far back 1839, Twitter users were swift and fast in their debunking of Paris’ claim.

Sorry, @BillNyeSaves did it way before you. It was 1999 pic.twitter.com/yEHZN5BVvd

— ItsMixerOne (@mixer1av) November 19, 2017

Liar. pic.twitter.com/yM9hHWzwCf

— Rodrigo רודריגו (@WalterAsensio) November 19, 2017

Sorry. Pre Thelma & Louise pic.twitter.com/YAFmaTJcWf

— Mulled Wine Mincer ? (@Aanth) November 19, 2017

George Harrison. 1966. pic.twitter.com/NclJMIpoK6

— George MacDonald (@geomac24) November 19, 2017

#Sinatra did it as a child. ? pic.twitter.com/BoJkdch4yv

— John Nasser (@Cousin_Johnny) November 19, 2017

IM SORRY BUT pic.twitter.com/Rvd7JEa0g0

— jolly ol laura claus (@space_orphan) November 19, 2017

This is the first ever photograph selfie in history, taken by Robert Cornelius in 1839. It's now in the collection of @librarycongress. ? pic.twitter.com/OJVQz7Rnrk

— National Galleries (@NatGalleriesSco) September 30, 2017

And while she might not have been the first, you can’t say that Paris is not synonymous with the selfie.