Perez Hilton’s children, niece and sister departed the podcaster’s home shortly before he began his distressing livestream, after it became clear he was experiencing a mental health crisis, the family said in a statement.
“Just minutes before the public livestream incident, Perez’s children, niece, and sister were inside the home. When it became clear that Perez was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself, they immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma,” the statement said.
Hilton has three children who were born through surrogacy. His son was born in 2013, followed by two daughters in 2015 and 2017.
The family added: “Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced. An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy.”
Hilton, 48, was taken to the hospital following multiple calls to police reporting that a person was “livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media.” Hilton’s TikTok account has since been suspended.
His family and team previously confirmed that Hilton was receiving medical care.
“We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers,” the statement posted to Hilton’s website read. “We can confirm that Perez is receiving medical care, and our family’s focus right now is on his well-being.
“We kindly ask that you respect Perez’s privacy, as well as the privacy of his family, during this difficult time,” the statement said. “If and when we are able to share any updates, we will do so with everyone as soon as we can. Thank you for your compassion, understanding, and continued support.”
How the incident unfolded
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said officers went to a home in the area on Aug. 4 in response to multiple calls about a man livestreaming acts of self-harm.
According to police, officers spoke with family members outside and “tactically disengaged.” The department did not identify Hilton by name.
The person was “safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention,” police said.
“In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize deescalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies and the public.”
Authorities also confirmed that mental health professionals were “providing support and re
Hilton’s podcast cohost Chris Booker said in an update on Instagram that he hoped to continue making podcasts with Hilton when he recovered.
“It’s all TBD at the moment as our collective focus is on his health,” Booker said. “I certainly hope to continue them with my friend when the time is appropriate.
“We’ve done these shows for over a decade now, and the support from our listeners has been resounding. He is very loved. I can only hope that he feels it. Heal up, friend.”
TikTok said in a statement Wednesday that its automated moderation systems flagged the livestream for violating the platform’s Community Guidelines within minutes and that the livestream ended after 15 minutes, according to multiplenewsoutlets.
Several other livestreams were removed within 90 seconds, the company said, before Hilton’s account was banned. TikTok said a “moderator error” caused a delay in taking down the livestream. It also said it alerted authorities about what had occurred.
Who is Perez Hilton?
Perez,whoselegalname is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., rose to prominence through his celebrity gossip blog in the early 2000s. He adopted the stage name Perez Hilton as a play on the name of reality TV star Paris Hilton.
Hilton’s outspoken commentary has drawn criticism from the celebrities he covered. In a 2012 interview with the New York Times, he reflected on his blog’s reputation, saying, “What’s important for me is not being liked, but it is that people think I am no longer toxic to the world.
“I’m aware of the fact there are going to be a lot of people with lingering resentment and a lot of skeptics, and that’s OK because I am not pretending to be perfect,” he said.
Hilton later branched out from blogging, appearing in TV shows such as Glee, Celebrity Big Brother and Family Guy, as well as inmusic videos for Rihanna, Demi Lovato and the Pussycat Dolls. He has published four books and hosts a podcast.
In an Instagram video shared in March, Hilton said he had spent three weeks in a hospital after contracting the flu, then developing “an ulcer, and then a perforation, and then sepsis.”
“The sepsis just kept working, and my body kept falling apart,” Hilton said. “Then one night with rapid response came ’cause my heart got out of control. They had to put me on heart medications. And then I developed another infection in the hospital.”
In June, Hilton announced that he had relocated with his children from Miami to Las Vegas. He said he was “manifesting health, good health — that’s what’s most important.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental or emotional health, help is available. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline, or go to988lifeline.org.
