What Is Paris Hilton's Ex-Fiance Chris Zylka Up To Now?

Where were you when you learned that Paris Hilton had split from fiancé Chris Zylka?

As you may recall, the pair embarked on a fast and furious romance, complete with a romantic marriage proposal on a ski slope in Aspen and a 20-carat rock to boot. "I am so excited to be engaged to the love of my life and my best friend," Hilton gushed to People on January 2, 2018. "I have never felt so happy, safe, and loved. He is perfect for me in every way and showed me that fairytales really do exist!" 

Alas, what goes up usually comes down (especially on the slopes), and by November of the same year, the engaged couple was dunzo. "When I fall in love, I fall in love fast and hard, and it was this whirlwind romance," Hilton confessed during an appearance on CBS' "The Talk," per ET Online. "I've always been obsessed with Disney stories and love stories, and I thought it was going to be my happy ending, and I just realized after time it wasn't the right decision," she told the daytime talk show's then-hosts Sheryl Underwood, Sharon Osbourne, Eve, and Sara Gilbert. "I wish him the best, and one day I would love to get married and have children, but for right now I'm just focused on myself and my work," she declared. But what really happened between Hilton and Zylka? And what's he up to now? The answer just might surprise you... 

Sources say the split turned nasty

Paris is for lovers?

While Paris Hilton painted her split from fiancé Chris Zylka as amicable, some sources were adamant that the exes were anything but cordial following their high-profile breakup. "The relationship exploded when they had a fight at home. Chris told Paris that she only surrounds herself with 'yes men.' Things have been tense for a while, but that really set her off," an insider revealed to In Touch about the breakup. But to make matters worse, it's reported that Hilton refused to give the $2 million engagement ring back (though the source claims she's the one who ponied up for the giant sparkler) and refused to let him see their shared dogs or collect some of his belongings including his personal artwork. YIKES. 

So what's a guy to do when fresh off a nasty breakup from the "That's hot" hotel heiress??? Head north and bury himself in his work, of course...

Chris Zylka has moved on from Paris Hilton

By August 2019, Chris Zylka appeared to be doing just fine following his high-profile split from socialite and hotel heiress Paris Hilton.

As reported by TMZ, Zylka was spotted at Chronic Ink Tattoo in Ontario getting the Disney-inspired "Paris" tattoo on his left forearm covered up. A source told the tabloid website that Zylka was filming a new Netflix show in Canada and wanted to get the former ink covered before he finished shooting. As evidenced by photos obtained by TMZ, what once was a declaration of love for his former fiancée is now... a giant gorilla. It's reported that the new ink took a grueling six hours to finish and might have cost him a cool $1300 — assuming that the tattoo shop made him pay, that is.

But what about Zylka's love life? Following his breakup from Hilton, Zylka has been romantically linked to fellow actor and model Hailee Lautenbach. In February, Zylka took to his Instagram and posted three photos of the happy couple and a mushy-gushy caption that read, "You're my everything. I love you so much @haileebobailee." No word yet whether or not Zylka has commemorated this relationship with some new ink. TBD, we suppose...