Warning: Graphic content.
This article mentions self-harm and suicidal ideation.
Perez Hilton’s sister, Barbara Lavandeira, has given an interview with Page Six, where she shared new details from the star’s harrowing hospitalization last week — and revealed that he had been struggling with suicidal ideation prior to this incident.
On Aug. 4, the celebrity blogger triggered widespread concern when he went live on TikTok completely nude, and was seemingly self-harming. Perez was taken to the hospital after local authorities were flooded with concerned phone calls from online viewers, and graphic videos showing him covered in blood were later circulated on social media.
Since then, Perez’s family has issued multiple statements to the public. In one that was shared on Aug. 6, they revealed that the celebrity blogger’s children, ages 13, 11, and 8, were present just moments before he went live on TikTok.
“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. 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.”
They went on to ask for content creators, the paparazzi, and the media to leave the area surrounding the family’s home to give the children “the privacy and space they need during this unimaginably difficult time.”
They doubled down on this request in a statement that was shared on Perez’s website this past weekend, which also gave further insight into his current status. It read: “Perez’s condition remains serious but stable. He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days. His treatment and recovery will be a long process. We are grateful that Perez was able to spend time with his mother and sister yesterday. As our family remains focused on Perez’s treatment and recovery, we also need the space and privacy to care for everyone affected by this situation.”
“Perez’s children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family,” the statement concluded. “Please allow them and the rest of the family the peace and privacy they desperately need during this incredibly difficult time. Thank you for your continued support, compassion, and understanding.”
For reference, Perez raises his children as a single father after welcoming them via surrogate, and earlier this week, it was revealed that his mom, Teresita Lavandeira, filed for temporary custody on Aug. 7 — three days after his hospitalization. Perez was said to have signed the documents “in the best interest of the children.”
And a day after this news broke, another update was posted to Perez’s official website from his sister, Barbara, who directed readers to her new interview. She explained: “The past several days have been incredibly difficult. I rarely give interviews, but I felt it was important to speak on the record about what happened, share what I personally witnessed, and address some of the misinformation circulating.”
Speaking to Page Six, Barbara said that Perez — real name Mario Lavandeira — has no access to his cellphone or social media, and that his “physical and mental recovery” will “take a lot of time.” While she didn’t get into the specifics of Perez’s injuries, she confirmed that he sustained “cuts to his face and other areas” during the distressing livestream, “but it’s still far too early to know the extent of any lasting damage or scarring.”
Barbara also said that her conversations with Perez have been “limited” since his hospitalization, and she’s not sure how much he remembers from the incident or is aware of regarding his current situation. In terms of the children, Barbara made it clear that neither she nor her mom plans to have permanent custody of the kids, and that the “goal” is for Perez to care for them again once “he is healthy and able to do so safely.” She added that the “entire family” is surrounding the children with the love and support that they need in the meantime.
As for the incident itself, Barbara said that she and her daughter were visiting Perez in Miami from their home in California, as she confirmed that she was present when his mental health crisis became apparent. She called it “one of the darkest days my family and I have ever experienced," as she recalled how Perez locked himself in his bedroom, “which wasn’t like him,” and that she grew concerned when he stopped responding to her knocking.
Upon entering the bedroom, Barbara realized her brother was locked in his bathroom, and when she managed to get inside, she found him covered in self-inflicted injuries. She said: “When I opened the door, my nightmare became a reality. Mario was standing in front of the shower, naked, cut up, covered in blood, with a box cutter in his hand. What I can say with certainty is that I didn’t recognize my brother when I looked at him. I saw it in his eyes. They didn’t look the same. Then, a split second later, he smiled at me. It felt like I was staring at someone else.”
Barbara prioritized getting the children out of the house and contacted authorities. After having a family friend come by to be with the kids, she returned to the house and waited for the ambulance while tending to Perez’s injuries. She said: “He had already lost a significant amount of blood, yet he was somehow still able to speak, although his voice was very faint.”
Barbara also revealed that two weeks before this incident, Perez was hospitalized for “severe depression” after he approached her and their mom for help. She recalled: “He told us that a few days earlier, he had felt empty, hopeless, and like he was a burden on everyone. He then admitted that one night, when he couldn’t sleep, he had taken the remaining painkillers from his surgery in March. He said he just wanted to sleep.”
He went “voluntarily” to the hospital that same day, and was discharged after several days of evaluation and treatment. Barbara said: “That weekend, Mario seemed so much better. He looked better, too. We spent time together as a family, and he started looking up coping mechanisms and grounding techniques he had learned during his short stay [in the hospital].”
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