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Perez Hilton has reportedly been asking for Katy Perry to visit him in hospital, despite the pair having barely spoken in years, as friends remain concerned about his mental state following his self-harm incident.
The 48-year-old celebrity blogger has now spent almost a month in hospital in Florida after a disturbing livestream in which he seriously injured himself.
People close to Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, have told the Daily Mail that he remains confused about his surroundings and has reportedly lost track of both where he is and what year it is.
One source claimed Hilton appears to believe it is 2016, describing it as though he has effectively “lost a decade”.
His apparent confusion has also led to an unexpected request involving Perry, 41.
According to the source, Hilton has repeatedly asked friends to bring the singer to his hospital bedside, reportedly insisting that they are “best friends”.
He is also said to have claimed that he “made her into a star” and that she “would be nowhere without him”.
Hilton and Perry were publicly close during the early stages of her career, with the gossip blogger frequently championing the singer, her music, and life.
However, it has been alleged that the pair have had very little contact in recent years.
“He is not all there,” the source claimed.
A family friend who has known Hilton for more than two decades also told the publication that his condition remains concerning, saying even brief conversations over the phone demonstrate that he is “still not well at all.”
Hilton's current state follows the shocking incident on August 4, when he appeared on TikTok Live.
Viewers reportedly watched as Hilton, who was naked and covered in blood, repeatedly injured himself with a large knife.
The livestream remained online for around 15 minutes before TikTok ended the broadcast, with police arriving shortly afterwards.
Hilton was subsequently admitted to hospital under Florida's Baker Act, legislation which permits the temporary involuntary detention of someone believed to be experiencing a mental health crisis.
He has reportedly had no access to his phone or the internet since the incident, with communication outside the hospital taking place through a landline.
Those close to him have described his conversations as increasingly difficult to follow.
The longtime family friend said Hilton can “ramble” during calls and sometimes drift away from the conversation.
Although he reportedly has periods where he is more lucid, the friend described him as being “all over the place.”
“One minute he's thinking about moving forward and making plans for when he's back at work,” the friend said. “The next minute he's talking about walking away altogether.”
Despite his condition, Hilton is reportedly still thinking about the celebrity news website that bears his name and helped make him an internet sensation during the 2000s.
“He asked how the site is doing. He asked how people are talking about him - what they're saying,” the friend said.
“His family has assured him that everything is OK, but he's not believing it.”
His website has continued operating during his hospital stay, with his small team posting celebrity news in his absence.
However, sources reportedly believe the surge in traffic that followed the livestream was short-lived.
Before the crisis, Hilton had also reportedly been exploring opportunities outside his blog, including reality television projects, although those plans failed to gain traction.
For now, however, returning to work appears to be a long way off.
“He can't do any work at the moment. His family is handling all of his affairs,” a source said.
“His mother and sister are making sure he is getting the best care. They are hopeful.”
Hilton is also reportedly recovering from significant physical injuries sustained during the incident.
Sources said he remains covered in medical gauze after doctors treated numerous cuts, while broken bones reportedly caused by a fall have left him with limited mobility.
His three children, Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight, were reportedly at home when the incident began.
A Miami judge has since granted Hilton supervised visitation while his mother, Teresita, has temporary custody of his children.
However, he must first receive psychiatric clearance, with any visits required to take place under the supervision of an approved family member or therapist.
“He's not mentally in a place where he can really see the kids, and he is feeling pretty alone right now,” a source said.
Hilton is also reportedly struggling with a lack of contact from people in the celebrity world.
Sources previously claimed that he had not received a card, flowers, or even a message from celebrities he had previously considered friends.
“All the ones he wanted to reach out, all the celebrities who he has mended fences with, all the ones who said he's their friend. None of them are doing anything,” one insider said.
As his periods of confusion reportedly become less frequent, those close to Hilton say he is beginning to understand the seriousness of what has happened.
“He feels very isolated at the moment, very alone,” the family friend said.
“He's being really hard on himself, regretting all these things that he has done and where life is now. He's despondent. He's nowhere near ready to get out. He's got a very, very long way to go.”
The friend believes his role as a father could ultimately provide Hilton with something to focus on during his recovery.
“He can move forward by being a dad, but let's be real... it will be a co-parenting thing with his family from here,” they said.
For now, his physical and mental recovery remains the priority, with a return to work described as “a distant thing.”
“He says he wants people to learn from him,” the friend said.
“He can do that best by recovering mentally and physically. He understands that.”
