Perez Hilton's family has revealed that his children fled the home when the celebrity blogger experienced a "mental health crisis" during a disturbing TikTok live stream earlier this week.
The 48-year-old former Celebrity Big Brother star shocked fans when he brandished a knife during the stream, which was later removed. Police responded after "multiple" emergency calls over concerns for his welfare. Clips of the livestream, which the Mirror is choosing not to show, saw Perez covered in blood.
Family's account
Perez is a single father to Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and eight-year-old Mayte. In a statement posted to the celebrity blogger's website, his family expressed gratitude for the support they've received, but also detailed the traumatic events that unfolded.
"The events of the past several days have been nearly unbearable for our family. Just minutes before the public livestream incident, Perez’s children, niece, and sister were inside the home," the statement read.
"When it became clear that Perez was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself, they immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma."
Prioritizing the children
The family's statement emphasized that their highest priority is helping the children heal. "An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy," they said.
They also asked for privacy, saying: "For the children’s safety, privacy, and well-being, we respectfully ask members of the media, paparazzi, content creators, and the public to leave the area surrounding the family’s home and not return."
Police response
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's office said deputies used crisis intervention techniques to de-escalate the situation rather than confronting Hilton immediately. Licensed mental health professionals stayed at the scene to provide support to the family.
In a statement, the sheriff's office explained: "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."
They added: "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."
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