Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was hospitalized Tuesday following an incident during a TikTok livestream in which he appeared to harm himself. The event prompted viewers to contact law enforcement.
The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to People that deputies responded to Hilton’s Florida home and staged a de-escalation. A spokesperson for the sheriff's office explained that in situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis or self-harm, deputies prioritize de-escalation through time, distance, and communication.
"Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public," the spokesperson stated.
While not identifying Hilton by name, the sheriff’s office informed CNN that the individual was "safely recovered" and transported to a local hospital. A crisis response unit and mental health professionals were also present to support the individual's family.
Unverified clips circulating online from the now-deleted livestream showed Hilton with visible blood, appearing to cut himself as viewers urged him to stop.
Representatives for Hilton acknowledged awareness of the "concerning content." In a statement to Page Six, Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan of Golden Artists Entertainment said, "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."
Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., known professionally as Perez Hilton, reportedly started his gossip blog in the early 2000s. In March, Hilton stated he had been hospitalized for several weeks with a life-threatening condition that began with an ulcer. HuffPost has reached out to his representatives for an update.
For those in need of mental health support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available by calling or texting 988, or online at 988lifeline.org. Additional resources for local mental health and crisis services can be found at dontcallthepolice.com. International resources are available through the International Association for Suicide Prevention.