Incident and Immediate Response
US blogger Perez Hilton is in a "serious but stable" condition after being admitted to hospital, according to his family. Emergency services were called to his Miami home on Tuesday after members of the public reported concerns while watching a TikTok livestream. The Miami sheriff's office confirmed they attended a scene of a man "livestreaming acts of self-harm" on Tuesday. They did not confirm his name but said the man was alone in the house at the time.[S1]
A statement released on the 48-year-old's website said he "experienced significant blood loss" and his treatment and recovery would be a "long process". The father-of-three, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, is expected to have surgery in the coming days. A TikTok spokesman said its automated moderation systems flagged the livestream within minutes to the company's US moderation team for review. A moderator error caused a delay in the removal, TikTok said, but the company alerted law enforcement to the situation, closed several subsequent streams within 90 seconds, and banned the account.[S1][S2]
Family Statement and Hospitalization
The statement said Hilton was being held in hospital under Florida's Baker Act, which focuses on providing services for people experiencing a mental health crisis. His family later confirmed that his communication has been extremely limited and confined to immediate family, medical providers, and others directly involved in his care. They also said he has not communicated with the media or issued any public statements.[S2][S4]
The family's statement demanded privacy, urging members of both the media and public to stop visiting Hilton's property. "There is absolutely no reason for members of the media or the public to remain outside the family's home," the statement read. They also asked photo agencies not to purchase, publish, or distribute any photographs of the children. According to the statement, Hilton's three children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family.[S3]
Background and Context
The pseudonym Perez Hilton is a reference to Paris Hilton who was at the height of her fame when the celebrity gossip blog was launched in 2005. The website would go on to attract 8 million hits a day at a time when the internet was still in its relative infancy. It was criticised for vicious commentary of stars including Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga. In later years, Hilton admitted having regrets about being "mean or cruel".[S1][S2]
He has also appeared on reality TV shows including Celebrity Rap Superstar and Celebrity Big Brother. As per a Page Six report, Hilton's friends are worried that his recent battle with sepsis may have triggered his terrifying self-harm incident. Hilton detailed his battle with the condition earlier this year, saying, "People die of sepsis. The day before I was hospitalised, I was in so much stomach pain." He underwent laparoscopic surgery and spent roughly three weeks in the hospital before being discharged.[S2][S6]
