Perez Hilton's family have said he is “able to communicate” after his admission to hospital.
Emergency services were seen outside the celebrity blogger's home in Miami on Tuesday after members of the public reported seeing him self-harm in a TikTok livestream. His account was suspended minutes later.
Family statement
A statement from Hilton's family and team said it has been an “incredibly difficult” time for them. They said: “We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope.
“We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover.
“We will share additional updates as we receive confirmed information and are able to do so.
“For now, we're taking things one step at a time and keeping our focus where it belongs, on Perez and his recovery.
“Your compassionate humanity during this heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express.
“This has been incredibly difficult and emotional for us, made even harder because very little information has been made available to our family.
“While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful.”
Sheriff's office response
In a statement to media on Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office confirmed they attended a scene of a man “livestreaming acts of self-harm”, but did not name Hilton. They said: “In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication.
“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.”
Deputies confirmed the man was alone in the house at the time.
Background
Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, rose to fame in the 2000s as a celebrity gossip blogger. His pseudonym is a reference to Paris Hilton, who was at the pinnacle of her fame at the time of his blogging career.
His caustic attitude towards the stars he covered received criticism at the time, along with his practice of “outing” closeted gay celebrities. The popularity of Hilton's blog eventually declined, and he moved into a career in reality television, appearing on shows including Celebrity Rap Superstar and Celebrity Big Brother.
Hilton has three children, a son and two daughters, born via surrogate.
