Perez Hilton, the celebrity blogger also known as Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., is receiving medical care following a disturbing incident that occurred during a TikTok livestream Tuesday night, his representatives and family confirmed in a statement Wednesday.
Viewers alerted authorities after witnessing Hilton apparently harm himself while live on the platform. Videos of the incident have since been removed, but reports indicate Hilton was naked and covered in blood during the livestream. Police responded to his Florida home and staged a de-escalation, according to authorities.
"Many of you have reached out with concern for Perez, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers," the statement from Hilton's team and family read. "We can confirm that Perez is receiving medical care, and our family’s focus right now is on his well-being. We kindly ask that you respect Perez’s privacy, as well as the privacy of his family, during this difficult time."
This event follows previous health issues for Hilton, who was hospitalized earlier this year for severe sepsis and later for deep vein thrombosis. He spent several weeks bedridden but posted a video in April showing him walking.
In recent years, Hilton has publicly apologized for his past commentary, which was often harsh and critical of celebrities during the early 2000s when his blog gained popularity. He has stated that he has apologized both privately and publicly to many individuals he may have harmed with his words and actions.
"Because I was so selfish, because I didn’t care who I hurt, I just cared about the views, the attention, the money — people hated me," Hilton said in a YouTube video in April. He added that he now focuses on providing for his family, which includes three young children, his mother, and his sister. "I’m doing my best."