communicate

Aug. 6 (UPI) — The family of celebrity blogger Perez Hilton said in a statement that he is “able to communicate” following an incident of apparent self-harm during a livestream earlier this week.

Hilton, 48, was hospitalized after appearing to commit an act of self harm on TikTok on Tuesday. The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office said he has been hospitalized under the state’s Baker Act which allows authorities to keep someone held if they pose a threat to themselves or others.

“Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez,” Hilton’s family said in a statement on Wednesday. “Your compassionate humanity during this profoundly heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express. We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope.”

After the TikTok livestream, emergency responders were called to Hilton’s home. A short time later he was rushed to a local hospital.

The sheriff’s office said in a statement that they received reports of a man “livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media.” They did not identify that man as Hilton, who is renowned as one of the world’s most prominent celebrity gossip bloggers.

“We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover,” the statement from Hilton’s family reads. “We will share additional updates as we receive confirmed information and are able to do so.”

Hilton’s TikTok account has been deactivated and the livestream has been removed, though some users have screen recorded and circulated the video.

Hilton was born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., before taking on the pseudonym “Perez Hilton.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, confidential, free help is available from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

PEREZ Hilton is “able to communicate”, his family shared – in a health update one day after the celebrity blogger’s distressing TikTok video.

Hilton, 48, was rushed to hospital on Tuesday after a disturbing livestream appeared to show him self-harming at his Miami home.

Police received multiple 911 calls from concerned fans who reported that the TV star was naked, covered in blood, with several marks on his body.

Hilton’s family have now provided an update on the blogger’s condition, while thanking well-wishers for their “compassionate humanity during this heartbreaking time”.

Their statement continued: “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.

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“We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope.

“We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover.”

Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., sparked alarm after going through a mental health crisis in front of thousands of viewers.

Emergency dispatch audio revealed the tense hours leading up to his rescue as police tried to negotiate with him.

In one dispatch recording, two men are heard discussing a “man down call” involving a “live streamer” who was broadcasting himself while in severe distress, which left viewers “upset.”

Police are believed to have arrived at Hilton’s rental home at around 7.10 pm and spent several hours trying to make contact with him while also speaking with concerned family members.

A second dispatch recording, obtained by The U.S. Sun and timestamped at around 10.41 pm, shows operators later classifying the incident as a reported “suicide attempt” as they requested additional assistance.

The audio captures the urgency of the response, with dispatchers sending multiple police units to the property and warning responding officers that it was an “active police scene.”

Other units were placed on standby as officers worked to safely resolve the crisis before Hilton was ultimately transported to hospital.

At around 11 pm, officers revealed they were entering the home and minutes later Hilton was transported to hospital.

A source close told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Hilton was injured and was placed under a psychiatric hold under the Baker Act.

Officially known as the Florida Mental Health Act of 1971, it allows a person to be taken to a receiving facility for an evaluation of up to 72 hours.

It does not mean the person has been arrested or charged with a crime.

Earlier this year, Hilton spent three weeks in hospital as he battled sepsis, one of a series of health problems – including an ulcer and blood clot – apparently triggered by taking flu medication on an empty stomach.

Following his medical drama in March he said: “My stupidity landed me in hospital for 21 days.

“It was the worst and best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

But the star found religion while he was recovering, and even claimed God told him to sell his $4 million mansion in Las Vegas and move to Miami.

He started urging his army of social media followers to pray for him. 

In one bizarre post he wrote: “I feel like I should be scared right now, but I’m not. I definitely am worried though. God, show me the way!

“Perez Hilton is GOING THROUGH IT right now. He asks for prayers and for Christ to intervene – sooner rather than later. Working on patience!”

Hilton found global fame in the early 2000s for his blog where he spoke about celebrity gossip and commented on the latest viral showbiz stories.

He was known for his big, often controversial, opinions on the stars of the era.

This led to him rubbing shoulders with some of Hollywood’s top names such as the Kardashians as well as starring in several TV shows.

In 2007, he featured in several episodes of The View and created his own TV show over in the UK called Perez Hilton Superfan in 2012.

His success with the show in Britain also saw him land a spot as a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.

Despite being the seventh celebrity evicted from the reality TV show, Hilton had several major moments throughout the season and is known as one of the show’s most memorable cast members.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on 988lifeline.org, or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.