Celebrity3 min(s) read
Just a month after celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was rushed to hospital after self-harming while on a TikTok livestream, his family has spoken out about the incident and updated fans on his mental state.
At the beginning of August, Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., was seen with blood visible on his body and cuts to his arms and torso while appearing to draw a knife across himself. The video has since been removed from the platform.
According to a statement from the Hilton family, the blogger has begun a residential treatment program after receiving treatment for his physical injuries.
The family added that Hilton will remain in the live-in recovery centre for at least several weeks, if not longer, so that he can “focus fully on his mental health and recovery.”
Seemingly quashing bizarre rumors that have spread about the self-proclaimed “OG influencer”, the family’s statement read: “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.”
They also shared that he does not have access to his phone or laptop, meaning contact with friends and family is limited to allow him to give his undivided attention to getting better.
Hilton rose to fame in the early 2000s through his celebrity gossip website, PerezHilton.com, which launched in 2004 and became one of the internet's most recognizable entertainment news platforms.
Throughout his career, Hilton has also attracted controversy. He faced criticism for publicly outing LGBTQ celebrities before they had spoken about their sexuality themselves, was accused of stalking by Lady Gaga in 2013, and was previously sued over recordings involving Britney Spears.
He also sparked backlash while serving as a judge at the 2009 Miss America pageant after making derogatory remarks about a contestant who opposed same-sex marriage.
