Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was hospitalized following a disturbing TikTok livestream on Tuesday night that showed him appearing to harm himself. TikTok blamed a moderator error for delaying the removal of the video, while authorities confirmed he was transported to a Miami hospital under Florida’s Baker Act.
The Tuesday Night Livestream and Emergency Response
Emergency responders rushed to the Miami, Florida, home of celebrity blogger Perez Hilton—whose legal name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.—on Tuesday night after concerned viewers flooded emergency lines. The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deployed its Crisis Response Unit and licensed mental health professionals to the scene after receiving multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media,
according to statements provided to media outlets.
Deputies arrived at the residence, confirmed through family members on the scene that Lavandeira was alone inside, and prioritized de-escalation. According to the sheriff’s office, the approach involved creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication
to minimize risks during the crisis. Authorities confirmed that Lavandeira was safely recovered and transported by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he is receiving medical attention.
A source familiar with the situation told Fox News Digital that Lavandeira was placed under Florida’s Baker Act, a state statute permitting involuntary emergency psychiatric evaluations for up to 72 hours for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The same source added that he had wounds and cuts all over the place and confirmed He’s alive
while noting he sustained superficial cuts all over the body.
TikTok Cites Moderator Error Amid Scrutiny Over Content Delays
The incident ignited immediate criticism concerning how long the graphic content remained active on TikTok. While some viewers claimed the stream ran for 30 minutes or longer, TikTok US spokesperson Jamie Favazza disputed those accounts, stating that the broadcast lasted roughly 15 minutes. Favazza acknowledged that automated moderation systems flagged the content within minutes, but a moderator error
created an avoidable delay in pulling down the livestream and banning the account, as reported by The Verge.
TikTok confirmed that it notified law enforcement shortly after the automated flags registered. The platform removed subsequent livestreams started by Lavandeira within 90 seconds and banned the account for violating community guidelines prohibiting self-harm and graphic violence. Nevertheless, screen recordings and clips quickly circulated across alternative platforms like X and Instagram, prompting online users to disable video autoplay and mute mentions of the blogger.
Family and Management Share Updates on Recovery
By Wednesday evening, Lavandeira’s family and management team released updates through his official website and social media channels to address the public outpouring.
“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 profoundly heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express.”
Perez Hilton’s Family
Subsequent updates confirmed that Lavandeira, 48, is able to communicate. Relatives emphasized that they are taking recovery one step at a time and requested continued privacy.
Pioneer of Early Internet Gossip Confronts a Changed Media Landscape
Born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., the internet personality adopted his pseudonym as a play on socialite Paris Hilton after launching his celebrity gossip blog in 2004. During the height of the early blog era, his site drew readers by publishing celebrity commentary, photographs, and drawings.
More recently, the single father of three children born via surrogacy relocated from Las Vegas to Miami in June. In recent video messages, he acknowledged struggling with the pressures of the transition and the demands of balancing personal well-being following a separate health hospitalization earlier in the year for sepsis.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be reached at 116 123. In Australia, Lifeline is available at 13 11 14.
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