Perez Hilton taken to hospital after emergency call during TikTok livestream
By Neil Ramos
At A Glance
- Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was hospitalized after emergency responders were called to his Miami home following concerns raised during a TikTok livestream, authorities said.
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is currently recovering in a hospital after emergency responders were called to his Miami home following reports from viewers who became concerned during a TikTok livestream.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to reports of a man "livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media." Authorities said the individual was safely transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
The sheriff's office said its crisis response unit and licensed mental health professionals also responded to provide support and resources to the individual's family.
Although authorities did not identify the individual by name, multiple U.S. media outlets reported it was Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira. Police said he was home alone at the time of the incident. His TikTok account was later suspended.
The sheriff's office said deputies initially used crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques before the individual was taken to a hospital. Officials said such responses are intended to reduce the risk of injury during mental health emergencies whenever there is no immediate threat to others.
Hilton's managers, Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan, said in a statement that they were aware of the videos circulating online but had been unable to reach him. They said their primary concern was Hilton's health and the well-being of his family, while asking the public to respect their privacy.
Hilton rose to prominence in the early 2000s through his celebrity gossip website, becoming one of entertainment's most recognizable and controversial bloggers. In recent years, he publicly apologized for the harsh tone of his earlier work and shifted toward a more family-oriented online presence while continuing to cover entertainment news through his website, social media platforms and podcast.