Celebrity blogger and podcast host Perez Hilton is hospitalized in Miami after an apparent self-harm incident during a TikTok livestream Tuesday evening. The broadcast prompted many viewers to call emergency services and local authorities mounted a response. Officials said Hilton was safely removed from his residence and taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. His family has requested privacy and said their primary concern is his recovery.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a livestream of potential self-harm after receiving many calls. When officers arrived, they found Hilton alone in the home he shares with his mother and three children. Authorities said they entered with the intention of de-escalating the situation before Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took him for a medical assessment. Mental health professionals also arrived to offer support to the family. Hilton was taken into custody under the Florida Baker Act, which permits temporary involuntary mental health evaluation of someone deemed a danger to themselves.
Hilton’s representatives confirmed in a statement Wednesday that he is receiving medical care and thanked fans for their concern. The family also asked for their privacy to be respected while he focuses on his recovery.
Chris Booker, Hilton’s co-host on The Perez Hilton Podcast, also weighed in on the situation on social media. Booker said he had spoken briefly with the family and was committed to respecting their wishes for privacy. He also said he’s not sure where the podcast and its Patreon content will go from here. “I look forward to continuing them with my friend at the appropriate time,” Booker wrote. He is very much loved.
Hilton had had a tough year before. Earlier this year he was hospitalized for several weeks for treatment of an ulcer and sepsis, which he later described as life-threatening. He also recently moved from Las Vegas to Miami.
TikTok says the livestream was reported for violating its community guidelines shortly after it started. The company said the broadcast was reviewed by moderators and taken down within around 15 minutes and any subsequent attempts to go live were stopped and Hilton’s account was permanently banned. The platform also tipped off law enforcement.
Hilton (real name Mario Lavandeira) made a name for himself as one of the internet’s most prominent celebrity commentators in the mid-2000s with his influential gossip blog. Later, he expanded his career into podcasting, YouTube and social media, often garnering both devoted followings and harsh criticism.
The incident has also sparked renewed debate about the challenges that can arise from too much time spent online. For public figures whose livelihoods depend on being constantly visible, personal crises can unfold in front of thousands of viewers in minutes. In this instance, the audience who viewed the livestream also contacted authorities, highlighting the risks of live broadcasting and the possible role of online communities in emergencies. It also brings up bigger questions about how fast platforms can act when someone appears to be in immediate distress.
Equally noteworthy has been the reaction of Hilton’s closest associates. His family and Booker have not publicly speculated or sought to shift focus to future projects, but have expressed a desire for privacy and to recover. That restraint is particularly striking at a time when personal crises are often the subject of unremitting online commentary. The problem is not Hilton’s career path, his colleagues have made it clear they are most concerned about his health right now.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or is thinking about hurting themselves or others, help is available. If you’re in the United States or Canada, you can call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you are elsewhere please call your local emergency services or crisis service.
Source: NYTIMES