Perez Hilton, 48, was hospitalized last week under Florida's Baker Act, a law that permits temporary involuntary detention for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The hospitalization followed a livestream incident where the celebrity blogger repeatedly harmed himself with a knife, an event witnessed by horrified TikTok users.
Sources close to Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, state he is mortified by the livestream but has not viewed the approximately 15-minute video, as his family is shielding him from it. He is reportedly worried about the content and what others might be saying, though his family and friends are currently ensuring he only sees supportive reactions.
"Right now, everyone is telling him that the world is very supportive of him. We don't want him to see any negative commentary, or what happened. That would be the worst thing possible. What Perez needs is to feel like there are people in his corner. That will give him the strength to go on," a source told the Daily Mail.
Hilton currently has no access to the internet or electronic devices. Despite his confusion about the event itself, he understands that something serious occurred, he is in pain, and he knows it was a public incident that he inflicted upon himself.
Childhood Trauma and Public Persona
A longtime friend, Jorge Perez Jr., spoke to the Daily Mail about Hilton's history, suggesting that his past online behavior may stem from childhood trauma. Perez Jr. recalled Hilton being subjected to "evil" and "abusive" bullying as a child, especially due to not fitting in and being perceived as "flamboyant" in a religious school environment. Hilton, who was closeted as a child, has previously spoken about finding refuge in TV and pop culture as an escape from his peers.
Perez Jr. theorized that Hilton's aggressive online persona might have been a defense mechanism or a way to "repeat the trauma that we had." Hilton has made efforts in recent years to rehabilitate his public image, scaling back his aggressive commentary on celebrities and even considering a shift to more uplifting lifestyle content, though the lucrative nature of gossip ultimately kept him in the industry.
Recent Health Struggles and Family Concerns
Earlier this year, Hilton experienced a near-fatal health battle after allegedly consuming flu medications on an empty stomach, leading to sepsis and a month-long hospitalization. Following this, he reportedly began making videos, reading the Bible, and expressing guilt.
He also made a significant decision to move his family from Las Vegas back to his native Miami, reportedly to be closer to his Latino culture and to provide a better environment for his three young children: Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8. However, insiders have suggested that Hilton was also facing financial pressures from mounting medical bills.
On August 4, the day of the incident, authorities were called to Hilton's residence by alarmed viewers who witnessed the livestream. Police records described the event as a "suicide attempt." Hilton was transported to a hospital, where he sustained significant blood loss and injuries requiring surgery.
His mother has since filed for temporary custody of his children, with their "voluntary consent." The children have not visited him in the hospital but are speaking with him on the phone. A source indicated that Hilton is aware he needs help and that his recovery will be a long process, with significant emotional and psychological baggage to address.
"He did ask if the kids have seen the video, and they have not, and hopefully never will. He is relieved that they have not seen him at his worst," the insider added.