Perez Hilton's family share update on his recovery over one month on from disturbing livestream
Perez Hilton's family have issued an update on his health.
The celebrity blogger, 48, was hospitalized on 4 August after emergency services responded to his Miami home.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, which did not name the father-of-three directly, told CNN it 'received multiple calls regarding an individual who was live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media'.
On Hilton's website, the family said: "It’s been more than a month since the events of 4 August, and we wanted to share an update with everyone who has continued to reach out, send messages, and share well wishes for Perez and our family.
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"After weeks in the hospital receiving treatment for his physical injuries, Perez entered a residential treatment program where he can focus fully on his mental health and recovery."
They went on to say that 'this was an important next step, but there’s still a long road ahead', as Perez is expected to remain in residential treatment for several more weeks.
During the video last month, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, he broadcasted self-inflicted injuries while alone in his residence.
"He still does not have access to his phone or laptop, and his contact with family and friends remains limited so that he can focus fully on getting better," the family added.
"We’re also aware of several false reports claiming to describe Perez’s current physical and mental condition. To be clear, Perez has not lost ten years of his memory, does not believe it’s 2016, and is not confused about where he is. He is lucid and communicates clearly with his family. He does not have stitches and is not covered in gauze. And no, he has not asked anyone to bring Katy Perry to see him or mentioned her. No family member, and no one authorized to speak on Perez’s behalf, provided these false claims.
"His three children remain together, safe, and doing well in the care of their grandmother, who has stepped in to care for them full-time during this unexpected chapter. Our family’s priority continues to be giving them as much stability, routine, and 'normalcy' as possible while their dad focuses on his recovery. We are incredibly grateful for everything their grandmother is doing for them."
The family went on to say that Hilton - whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr - is 'a father of three, a son, a brother, and a friend who reached a point where he was struggling so deeply that he thought the people he loved would somehow be better off without him'.
"Perez has spent years acknowledging, apologizing for, and genuinely trying to grow from the things he said and did earlier in his career. The internet has a way of preserving old versions of people, even when the person behind them has changed. No one has to forget his past or accept his apologies. But we hope we can all agree that celebrating someone’s suicide attempt crosses a line," the statement continued.
"Three children came frighteningly close to losing their father forever. There is nothing funny or entertaining about that. For now, Perez’s job is to focus on getting healthy. Our job as his family is to support him, care for his children, and give them the stability they need while he does that.
"September is Suicide Prevention Month, and we hope this can also serve as a reminder that mental health struggles can affect anyone, even when others may not see what someone is going through."
Who is Perez Hilton?
Hilton is a celebrity gossip columnist whose pen name is a pun on socialite Paris Hilton.
He launched his website PerezHilton.com in 2004, originally using free WiFi in coffee shops because he couldn’t afford to install an internet connection in his home.
But he became infamous in the Noughties for his controversial coverage of the era’s biggest stars.
He had high-profile friendships with the likes of Lady Gaga, Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan, but other celebs such as Mila Kunis called out what she described as his ‘mean’ coverage.
Writing in his 2020 memoir TMI: My Life in Scandal, Hilton said: “I have a ton of regrets, particularly because I now see that I never needed to be so mean or cruel.
“One of the many things I regret is that I hurt so many people by giving them nasty nicknames, and above all that I was unkind to the children of celebrities.
“I have apologised publicly and privately to dozens of people."
Hilton is a single father to three children: Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, please don’t suffer alone. Call Samaritans for free on their anonymous 24-hour phone line on 116 123 or contact Harmless by visiting their website https://harmless.org.uk.
Topics: Celebrity
Anish Vij