Perez Hilton hospitalized after self-harm TikTok livestream; family asks for privacy
The celebrity blogger was taken to a Miami hospital after appearing to cut himself on camera Tuesday evening; TikTok banned his account after the stream, which lasted about 30 minutes.
Livestream incident
On Tuesday evening, August 4, Perez Hilton appeared to harm himself during a TikTok livestream from his Miami home. Video clips showed him covered in blood and handling a knife. The stream lasted about 30 minutes, though one report said less than 15 minutes; at one point roughly 4,000 viewers were watching. TikTok's moderators flagged the stream shortly after it began, but the platform did not disable it for roughly half an hour. TikTok later banned Hilton's account for violating community guidelines that prohibit "anything extremely gory, disturbing, or violent, especially when it could cause psychological harm."
Police response
The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office received multiple calls from concerned viewers. Deputies located Hilton's residence, confirmed he was alone, and chose a de-escalation approach.
In many situations involving a person in a mental health crisis or actively self-harming, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication.
Hilton was later transported to a local hospital under Florida's Baker Act, which allows involuntary commitment for up to 72 hours if a person poses a threat to themselves. Mental health professionals were on site to support his family.
Family and management statements
A statement posted on Hilton's official website said he is receiving medical care and asked for privacy. His management team, Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan, told Variety they were aware of the "concerning content" circulating online but had not been able to reach him directly.
Our greatest 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 make further comments.
Hilton's background and recent struggles
Born Mario Lavandeira, Hilton rose to fame in the mid-2000s with his gossip blog, known for acerbic commentary and public feuds with celebrities like Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus. In recent years he adopted a softer persona, focusing on fatherhood and podcasting. He has three children born via surrogacy.
In March 2026, Hilton was hospitalized for three weeks with an ulcer and sepsis; in April he underwent surgery for a blood clot. After those health scares, he posted videos saying he had found God and asked forgiveness from those he had hurt. His TikTok account had previously been banned in 2020, and he told The New York Times at the time that the platform "gave me something to really look forward to every day" during a period of depression.
Criticism of TikTok's response
Viewers criticized TikTok for allowing the stream to continue for roughly half an hour. One user wrote, "I honestly think TikTok should be held accountable in some way." Another commented, "I think we need a class action for TikTok allowing Perez Hilton's video for over 30 minutes. The video was seen by children." TikTok has not yet commented on the incident.
- Perez Hilton starts a TikTok livestream from his Miami home, later appearing to harm himself with a knife.
- Multiple concerned viewers contact the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office after seeing the disturbing stream.
- TikTok disables the livestream after approximately 30 minutes (one report says less than 15 minutes).
- TikTok bans Hilton's account for violating community guidelines on graphic self-harm content.
- Hilton is transported to a local hospital under Florida's Baker Act for involuntary psychiatric evaluation.
