Perez Hilton Hospitalised After Apparent Self-Harm TikTok Live-Stream

This article contains descriptions of self-harm.

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has been taken to hospital following a TikTok live-stream in which he appeared to be self-harming.

On Tuesday night, police were dispatched to the internet personality’s home in Florida, after concerning footage was circulated on social media.

He was then transported to a nearby hospital where he received medical attention, and also received care from mental health professionals at its Crisis Response Unit.

The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office (MDSCO) told CNN that they’d responded to “multiple calls regarding an individual who was live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media”.

A representative for the MDSCO also told People magazine: “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.”

His management team said (via Variety): “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 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.”

Perez – whose legal name is Mario Armando Lavandeira – rose to notoriety in the 2000s thanks to his celebrity news blog, where he frequently generated controversy due to his blunt, and often disparaging, commentary on the public figures he wrote about.

In the 2010s, he said he’d be changing the tone of his reporting, telling Ellen Degeneres on her daytime show that he wanted to “be part of the solution and not part of the problem”, after being called out by numerous celebrities.

He told the New York Times two years later: “What’s important for me is not being liked, but it is that people think I am no longer toxic to the world.”

Outside of his blogging career, Perez competed on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015, and is a father to a 13-year-old son and 11-year-old and eight-year-old daughters.

In recent history, Perez has experienced a number of health struggles, having been hospitalised with severe sepsis back in March.

He later shared that he’d been hospitalised for a second time due to deep vein thrombosis.

• Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.
• Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI – this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).
• CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.
• The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk
• Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.