Perez Hilton hospitalized after livestream self‑harm

The 48‑year‑old, known online as the "Perez Hilton" pseudonym, was admitted to a Miami hospital after emergency services responded to a TikTok livestream in which he performed self‑harm. Family members say he is in a "serious but stable" condition and will need a long‑term recovery.

Local authorities identified the incident as a mental‑health crisis and have applied Florida's Baker Act, allowing the judge to order necessary treatment. The author’s real name is Mario Lavandeira, a father of three.

TikTok officials say its automated monitoring flagged the stream within minutes and the account was removed and banned after a brief delay caused by a moderator error. A spokesperson noted that several subsequent streams were shut down within 90 seconds.

The pseudonym "Perez Hilton" derives from Paris Hilton; the blog launched in 2005, once drawing millions of hits and fame for controversial commentary. The founder has since publicly reflected on his past harsh tone.

For those feeling troubled, the BBC offers resources via the Action Line; Please click here for support.