Perez Hilton, the 48-year-old blogger also known as Mario Lavandeira Jr., is currently hospitalized after a self-harm incident that occurred during a TikTok livestream last Tuesday night. He was taken into custody under Florida's Baker Act, a law that permits the temporary involuntary detention of individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Doctors are treating Hilton for significant blood loss and undisclosed injuries, and sources indicate he is likely to have permanent scarring.
Following his medical discharge, Hilton is expected to be transferred to a secure psychiatric facility. Specialists will then have 72 hours to assess his mental state. If he is deemed a risk to himself or others, he could face involuntary placement. Mark Astor, a Florida attorney specializing in Baker Act cases, explained that release after the initial 72-hour assessment is unlikely, stating that the process typically leads to a hearing within five days where a judge decides on further detention.
Astor outlined three possibilities: Hilton's release, his agreement to voluntary stay, or a petition for involuntary placement. The latter could result in a confidential court hearing to determine if he should remain hospitalized for an extended period. Patients can be held for up to six months, though Astor suggested a 30-day order might be more realistic in Hilton's case. "You don't just get to walk out of there after 72 hours," Astor told the Daily Mail. "Whether it's a mental health issue, drugs, or all of the above, they need to get to the bottom of what has happened here."
Hilton's mother, Teresita Lavandeira, has remained by his side during his recovery. According to sources, she and Hilton's sister may seek to persuade authorities to release him to a private facility or apply for guardianship, allowing them to manage his healthcare decisions. Hilton's three children are currently in their grandmother's care and have not visited him in the hospital due to concerns about the potential trauma.
The incident on August 5 in Westchester, Florida, was described in dispatch records from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office as a "suicide attempt." Deputies had been called to Hilton's residence where he was found after the livestream. A neighbor's Ring camera captured police attempting to coax him from the property.
This event follows a previous hospitalization earlier this year in March, when Hilton recovered from sepsis requiring two surgeries and 21 days in the hospital. He had relocated from Las Vegas to Miami in the summer to focus on his family after that health scare, and had described the near-death experience as a catalyst for becoming a born-again Christian. A statement released by Hilton's team confirmed that his condition remains serious but stable, and that his recovery will be a lengthy process.
"The fact that he did it online on TikTok suggests he was praying for help: 'Somebody come and save me,'" Astor commented on the online nature of the incident. "The idea here is to get him back in the game, not to tarnish him or take his children away. I think he's going to get the help he needs and he's going to be a dad again."
For those in need of help, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 in the US. In the UK, call Samaritans at 116 123. In Australia, call Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.