On Tuesday, social media feeds were flooded with users expressing shock after allegedly witnessing celebrity blogger Perez Hilton livestreaming acts of self-harm on TikTok. The video on the social media platform appears to have since been removed.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Rolling Stone that it received multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media. Deputies successfully located the individual’s residence, where he was found alone. The Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Hilton was involved in the incident and stated that he was “safely recovered” and transported to a local hospital, where he is currently receiving medical attention.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response Unit and licensed mental-health professionals are on the scene providing support and resources to the individual’s family, according to an official statement.
“In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication,” the Sheriff’s Office noted in a previous statement. “Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilizing crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimize the risk of injury to the individual, deputies, and the public.”
A representative for Hilton and TikTok did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the incident.
Hilton, born Mario Lavandeira, rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a polarizing gossip blogger known for his unfiltered and often controversial commentary on celebrity culture. Over the years, he faced significant backlash from various public figures, including Khloe Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, and Lady Gaga, for his aggressive reporting style.
In more recent years, as online culture evolved, Hilton shifted his focus toward fatherhood and adopted a more tempered public persona. In a 2012 interview with The New York Times, he expressed regret over his past behavior and the emotional impact it had on others. “What’s important for me is not being liked, but it is that people think I am no longer toxic to the world,” he said at the time. “I’m aware of the fact there are going to be a lot of people with lingering resentment and a lot of skeptics. And that’s OK, because I am not pretending to be perfect.”
This article was updated on Aug. 5 at 1:04 a.m. ET to include an update from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.