Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was hospitalized after he reportedly livestreamed footage of himself self-harming on TikTok. Emergency services were seen outside his home in Miami on Tuesday night after concerned members of the public contacted authorities.
Police Response and Hospitalization
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed they received several 911 calls about an individual livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media. Deputies found Hilton, 48, inside his home alone and quickly assessed he wasn’t a risk to others but needed medical help.
A police spokesperson said: “Deputies tactically disengaged while continuing to monitor the situation.” He was “safely recovered” and taken to a local hospital to receive treatment.
Official Statements
“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,” the Miami-Dade sheriff’s office said. “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.”
Hilton’s managers, Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan, told TMZ in a joint statement that they were “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,” they said. “Our primary concern is Perez’s health and well-being, as well as the well-being of his family. 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.”
Background
Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, first rose to fame in the 2000s as a celebrity blogger and was known for his unfiltered commentary about popular stars from Paris Hilton, to Lindsey Lohan and Britney Spears. While his self-titled blog was hugely popular at the time, with the rise of social media, its popularity eventually declined. Hilton has since moved into reality television and podcasting.
