Adrianne Curry, winner of "America's Next Top Model," has publicly stated she forgives Perez Hilton for past harassment. Curry's comments come days after the blogger, born Mario Lavandeira Jr., was hospitalized following a distressing TikTok livestream.
In an Instagram video posted Thursday, Curry recounted years of alleged targeting by Hilton, describing graphic images he drew and stating he "bullied me and got the public to bully me." She noted this occurred during Hilton's "peak years."
Curry's remarks followed her earlier plea for people not to "monetize off the video" of Hilton's livestream and urged people to acknowledge his life has value. "I also want him to see me saying that his life has value and that I wish him peace, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to him," Curry stated. She expressed that sometimes it takes individuals who might be expected to harbor animosity to offer support during dark times.
"I forgive you, I don’t think you should be hurting yourself, and I hope you get f***ing better," Curry addressed Hilton directly. She explained to her followers that forgiving someone who has not asked for it requires effort, emphasizing the importance of being the "better person" in such moments. Curry added, "It would be really, really, really easy for me to kick him when he's down. It's really hard to practice this. You can't get him any more down than that. You don't have to kick him anymore."
Curry's initial video on Wednesday also called out behavior she deemed "disgusting" in people using Hilton's livestream for online engagement. She said, "I hear he was on a redemption arc and I love and appreciate those." She described the incident as "horrifying" and prayed that Hilton knows his life has meaning and purpose, asking the public to "stop exploiting this stuff."
Hilton's family released a statement on Wednesday confirming he was receiving hospital treatment. They expressed gratitude for public support and stated that while the situation has been difficult, they remain hopeful. The family confirmed Hilton is able to communicate, which has provided them with encouragement. They have requested continued prayers, understanding, and grace as he recovers.
Hilton, 48, is a father of three, with his son born in 2013 and two daughters born in 2015 and 2017, all via surrogacy. For those in need of support, the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting 988 in the U.S., or online at 988lifeline.org.