This article mentions self-harm.
Perez Hilton’s family has confirmed that his children were present just moments before that distressing livestream began, and they “fled” with his sister when it became apparent that he was experiencing “a severe mental health crisis.”
As I am sure you have heard by now, 48-year-old Perez was hospitalized on Tuesday after he appeared to self-harm while completely nude on TikTok Live. The father of three also made a series of worrying comments during the stream, prompting the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office to be dispatched to his home in Florida after they received several desperate calls from online viewers.
Perez was taken to the hospital for medical care, and in the hours since the incident, disturbing graphic videos that show Perez covered in blood were circulated on social media. At the time, his managers Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan, said in a statement to Variety and other outlets: “We are aware of the concerning content circulating online involving our client, Perez Hilton. 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. We appreciate everyone’s concern and ask that his privacy be respected during this time.”
On Wednesday, Perez’s family issued a further update via the celebrity blogger’s website, where they confirmed that he can “communicate.” The statement read: “Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez. Your compassionate humanity during this heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express. This has been incredibly difficult and emotional for us, made even harder because very little information has been made available to our family. While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful.”
“We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope,” the statement went on. “We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover. We will share additional updates as we receive confirmed information and are able to do so. For now, we’re taking things one step at a time and keeping our focus where it belongs, on Perez and his recovery. Again, thank you, truly, for all your support and compassion. We are so grateful.”
Perez lives with his mom and his three children, ages 13, 11, and 8, whom he raises as a single father after welcoming them via surrogate. Officers previously confirmed that Perez was alone in the house during the livestream, but on Thursday, Perez’s family issued another statement that shared more details about how the event unfolded.
“Our family cannot express enough our continued gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time. The events of the past several days have been nearly unbearable for our family,” the statement began.
“Just minutes before the public livestream incident, Perez’s children, niece, and sister were inside the home,” it went on. “When it became clear that Perez was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself, they immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma.”
“Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced. An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy,” the statement added. “For the children’s safety, privacy, and well-being, we respectfully ask members of the media, paparazzi, content creators, and the public to leave the area surrounding the family’s home and not return. Please allow his children the privacy and space they need during this unimaginably difficult time.”
“We will continue to provide updates on Perez’s condition through PerezHilton.com when we have additional information we are able to share,” it concluded. “Again, thank you for your compassion, understanding, and continued prayers.”
The livestream incident followed a difficult few months for Perez, which all started when he came down with the flu back in February. The following month, the star revealed that taking flu medication without food led to him developing an ulcer in his stomach, which turned into a perforation and then sepsis. Perez was hospitalized with severe sepsis in Las Vegas; he had to have a thrombectomy to remove a blood clot and spent three weeks being bedridden in the hospital.
In late March, Perez told followers: “God presented himself to me,” as he reflected on his time in the hospital, calling it “one of the most special things about this experience.”
And in May, Perez candidly revealed the financial impact that his hospital stay had had on him in an Instagram video promoting his new merch, telling viewers: “You don’t want to know how much I had to pay in hospital bills, with insurance! That’s why your boy is now in hustle mode, I had all that I had to take care of, and I wasn’t able to work for over a month.”
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