Perez Hilton is now 'able to communicate' with family members and is 'recovering' after being rushed to hospital, his family has confirmed.
Family confirms communication
The 48-year-old, real name Mario Lavandeira, had sparked concerns for his wellbeing when he appeared to self-harm during a TikTok livestream. He had been seen carrying a knife and covered in what seemed to be blood during the alarming livestream.
On Wednesday (August 5), the social media star's loved ones had confirmed that he was receiving medical treatment in hospital. They've now shared another update with another statement on his website, which read: 'Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez.'
'Your compassionate humanity during this profoundly 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.'
'We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope.' The family asked for '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.'
Police response
Emergency services were called to Hilton's home in Miami on Tuesday (August 4). The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office told US media that an individual had been safely recovered and transported to a local hospital, where they were receiving treatment.
Police explained that their crisis response unit and mental health professionals were supporting the individual's family at the scene. In a statement, the Miami-Dade Sheriff's office said: 'Deputies quickly located the individual's residence, where they spoke with family members on scene, and confirmed he was alone inside.'
Authorities decided to 'tactically disengage while continuing to monitor the situation and providing the needed support to his family.' They continued: 'In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritise de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication.'
'Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilising crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimise the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public.'
Background
Hilton's TikTok account has been suspended. TikTok said the livestream was flagged within minutes to the company's moderation team for review, but a moderator error caused a delay in the livestream's removal. The company alerted law enforcement to the situation.
Hilton was a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, and he was the seventh celeb to be evicted. He shot to fame because of his controversial celebrity gossip blog.
