Months before his recent distressing TikTok livestream involving self-harm with a knife, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, 48, experienced a severe health crisis that led him to believe he was going to die. He spent 21 days in the hospital battling sepsis, a condition he attributes to taking flu medication on an empty stomach.
During his 21-day hospital stay, which concluded in March, Hilton experienced multiple medical emergencies. "My body just started breaking down," he recounted on FOX News Media's "Hang Out with Sean Hannity" podcast, recorded on July 14. "I had fluid in my lungs. I went AFib. My heart issues. Everything that could go wrong, went wrong."
He explained that he had been taking Aleve and Tylenol without food, a practice that led to developing an ulcer and a perforation. At the Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas, Hilton underwent two surgeries to address the cascade of health problems.
Following this experience, Hilton stated that he found God and has since become devoted to his faith. "It was God presenting Himself to me, and then doing something that I could only describe as a miracle to heal me," he said.
His recent hospitalization occurred on Tuesday night after he broadcast alarming behavior on a TikTok livestream, which led to police being dispatched to his Miami home. A statement from his family on Wednesday indicated that Hilton is now "able to communicate" but remains under medical treatment. Four squad cars were observed arriving at his residence, and he was later taken away by ambulance. Clips from the livestream reportedly showed Hilton covered in blood while brandishing a knife before his account was suspended by TikTok.
The family statement also revealed that Hilton's three children, his sister, and niece were inside the home minutes before the incident. They "immediately fled" to shield the youngsters from witnessing further trauma. The family has requested privacy for the children during this difficult time.
Hilton, born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., launched his celebrity gossip blog in 2004. He has previously acknowledged past mistakes and controversial behavior, expressing deep shame and regret for his actions during his "enfant terrible phase" as a blogger. He described his past pursuit of attention as akin to a drug addiction, where he did not care who he hurt in the process. However, he has stated that he does not intend to change professions, viewing his work as "celebrity journalism" rather than gossip.