Perez Hilton was rushed to hospital in Miami after a disturbing live stream on TikTok showed him soaked in blood and self-harming with a knife. The 48-year-old is now said to be recovering and receiving medical attention, while his social media account has been suspended.
Disturbing live stream sparks emergency response
Hilton posted the video to his thousands of followers overnight, with horrified fans contacting emergency services and TikTok regulators. Local police received multiple emergency calls over his welfare. They confirmed they had been in contact with his family, and that he was inside the property alone at the time.
A spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Sheriff's office said: "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."
Perez was then "safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention". Officers remained at the scene and were "providing support and resources to the individual's family."
Controversial past and rise to fame
Perez is most known for his infamous eponymous gossip blog, PerezHilton.com, which he started in the mid 00s. He often wrote salacious stories laced with catty remarks and included crude drawings scrawled on top of pictures of celebrities. He frequently published upskirt photos of female stars, including Britney Spears and then teenagers Miley Cyrus and Amanda Bynes. He also used his platform to out members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Mila Kunis previously said of his behaviour in 2018: "To me, he was the first person that created ugly news, that literally just spread filth. It was just mean, and so it allowed people to be mean."
Filled with regret and transformation
After attempting to reframe his blog into a less vicious celebrity site, Perez admitted he was filled with regret at his past behaviour. "What's important for me is not being liked, but it is that people think I am no longer toxic to the world," he previously told the New York Times. "I'm aware of the fact there are going to be a lot of people with lingering resentment and a lot of sceptics. And that's OK because I am not pretending to be perfect."
In his 2020 memoir, TMI: My Life in Scandal, he reflected: "I have a ton of regrets, particularly because I now see that I never needed to be so mean or cruel. One of the many things I regret is that I hurt so many people by giving them nasty nicknames, and above all that I was unkind to the children of celebrities."
He added: "Over the last 10 years, it's been this ongoing process of making constant changes, finding out what the line is, and making mistakes along the way. I'm not perfect, I've had slip-ups, even in the last 10 years."
Becoming a father to three children
In 2013, Perez became a father for the first time after welcoming son Mario via a surrogate. He later welcomed Mia Alma in 2015 and Mayte Amor in 2017. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times after Mario's arrival, he explained that he "knew" he would become a father by his 35th birthday. "I knew it was going to happen this way because boyfriends and husbands may come and go, but kids are forever," he said.
Rebuilding life in Miami
In June of this year, Perez announced the family was relocating to Miami after building a life in Las Vegas. Taking to Instagram, he declared: "We're moving permanently to Miami. I am so excited, not nervous. I know this is the right move for me and my children and my mother." He claimed that "God told him" to make the move, sharing that his entire family would now be close by.
Fears for star and criticism of TikTok
Fans were quick to action after Perez's concerning TikTok live session, rushing to contact emergency services. Many have slammed TikTok bosses for their delay in response, after taking 30 minutes to suspend his account. One demanded: "Genuinely think TikTok should be held liable in some way for allowing that Perez Hilton feed to last 30 minutes. Absolutely insane." Another said: "This is insanely triggering. It's so unfair that TikTok didn't do something quickly enough, given the young people who use that app."
In a statement to TMZ, his spokesperson said: "We are aware of the concerning content circulating online involving our client, Perez Hilton. At this time, we have not been able to make direct contact with him, despite our ongoing efforts to reach him. Our primary concern is Perez's health and well-being, as well as his family's well-being. Until we have confirmed information, we will not speculate or comment further. We appreciate everyone's concern and ask that his privacy be respected during this time."
