Celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton remains hospitalized in serious but stable condition after an incident of apparent self-harm that was livestreamed on TikTok on the night of August 4. His family confirmed Saturday that he will require surgery in the coming days.
According to Variety, Miami police were dispatched to Hilton's home after receiving reports of a disturbing livestream during which Hilton, covered in blood, appeared to be cutting himself. Deputies responded after the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office received multiple calls about the incident. The following day, Hilton's TikTok account was banned.
In a statement published on Hilton's website, his family confirmed he remains under Florida's Baker Act, a law that allows for involuntary psychiatric examination. "His communication has been extremely limited and confined to immediate family, medical providers, and others directly involved in his care," the statement read. "He has not communicated with the media or issued any public statements. The only statements regarding Perez that should be considered credible and authorized are those published directly on PerezHilton.com."
The family also addressed reports about his physical condition directly. "Perez's condition remains serious but stable," the statement continued. "He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days. His treatment and recovery will be a long process. We are grateful that Perez was able to spend time with his mother and sister yesterday."
The Hollywood Reporter noted that an earlier statement from Thursday revealed just how close the situation came to being witnessed by Hilton's children. "Just minutes before the public livestream incident, Perez's children, niece, and sister were inside the home," the family wrote at that time. "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 family's Saturday statement also pushed back firmly against media presence near their home. The section was bolded for emphasis in the original release. "There is absolutely no reason for members of the media or the public to remain outside the family's home," the statement read. "We again respectfully ask members of the media to leave the home and surrounding area, stop following family members and cease photographing Perez's children. We also ask photo agencies not to purchase, publish or distribute any photographs of the children that may have been taken."
The statement referenced Hilton's own long-standing editorial policy. "For more than a decade, PerezHilton.com has maintained a 'no kids policy,' meaning the site does not publish photographs of children unless they are attending a public event or their family has chosen to make those photographs public on social media," it read.
The family concluded by addressing the children's safety directly. "Perez's children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family," they said. "Please allow them and the rest of the family the peace and privacy they desperately need during this incredibly difficult time."
Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., rose to fame in the early 2000s after launching a celebrity gossip blog known for tabloid photos captioned with his handwritten doodles. He is 48 years old.
The family has not announced a timeline for surgery or a projected release from the hospital.
If you or anyone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
