‘Perez is able to communicate’: Family of celeb blogger have ‘hope’ after live-streamed self-harm
Perez Hilton‘s family shared a positive update on Wednesday, August 5, saying the celebrity blogger can communicate, one day after he appeared to harm himself during a TikTok livestream.
“Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope,” they wrote on his blog. “While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful.”
The family described the ordeal as “incredibly difficult and emotional,” saying the lack of information had made it even harder. They added that they remain hopeful and asked for “continued prayers, understanding and grace” as Hilton recovers.
The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office said it received “multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media” Tuesday night.
Before TikTok removed the livestream, viewers had reported seeing Hilton with visible injuries.
Deputies were sent to a home in the Westchester neighborhood, where they located him and worked to de-escalate the situation before he was “safely recovered” and taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a hospital for treatment under Florida’s Baker Act.
“In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize deescalation by creating time, distance and opportunities for communication. At this time, deputies have tactfully disengaged while continuing to monitor the situation,” the statement from the authorities added.
The sheriff’s office did not name Hilton directly in its statements, but multiple outlets confirmed the residence belonged to him.
A source close to Hilton made a statement earlier to Page Six, noting, “At this time, we have not been able to make direct contact with him, despite our ongoing efforts to reach him. Our primary 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 comment further.”
Dante Rusciolelli, the CEO of Golden Artists Entertainment and Hilton’s agent, released a separate statement to US Weekly on Wednesday afternoon saying his team had no additional confirmed details to share. He said Hilton’s health, recovery and the privacy of both him and his family remained the top priority.
Chris Booker, who co-hosts “The Perez Hilton Podcast with Chris Booker,” also addressed the situation in a statement shared on Instagram. Booker informed that he had only spoken briefly with Hilton’s family, who were themselves struggling to get updates because of security protocols at the hospital.
Booker also shared that any official information would continue to come through Hilton’s website rather than through him, calling the situation “unimaginable” and saying he felt profound sadness for Hilton and his family.
He also addressed the future of their podcast, saying production is on hold while Hilton focuses on his recovery.