Perez Hilton’s Family Says He Can Communicate After He Appeared to Self-Harm on Livestream

The update comes just days after concerned viewers watching Hilton's livestream alerted authorities, prompting a swift emergency response to his Florida home. Deputies later confirmed the incident led to his hospitalization under Florida's Baker Act.

Perez Hilton's family is sharing a hopeful update after the blogger made headlines this week for appearing to self-harm during a TikTok livestream. Concerned viewers who witnessed the broadcast contacted emergency services, who were quickly dispatched to his home in Florida.

In the wake of the incident, Hilton's family revealed that the longtime columnist is recovering and "able to communicate," according to a press release published on his website.

"Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez," the statement began. "Your compassionate humanity during this heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express."

"This has been incredibly difficult and emotional for us, made even harder because very little information has been made available to our family," the statement continued. "While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful."

"We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope," Hilton's loved ones added. They asked for continued prayers, understanding, and grace as he continues to recover.

The family also noted plans to share further updates once they receive confirmed information.

"For now, we're taking things one step at a time and keeping our focus where it belongs, on Perez and his recovery," the statement concluded. "Again, thank you, truly, for all your support and compassion. We are so grateful."

The incident unfolded on Tuesday evening, August 4, when Hilton appeared to self-harm while live on TikTok. Once the broadcast ended, graphic footage showing Hilton covered in blood began circulating across social media.

A spokesperson for the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office (MDCSO) told People that deputies were sent to the scene after receiving numerous calls from alarmed viewers.

According to dispatch audio obtained by the outlet, Hilton was hospitalized after emergency responders arrived at his home following reports of a "possible suicide." Authorities "made entry" into the residence around 11 p.m. and were "en route" to a nearby hospital by roughly 11:30 p.m.

The sheriff's office further confirmed that Hilton was hospitalized under Florida's Baker Act, a state law permitting authorities to involuntarily hold someone believed to pose a threat to themselves or others.

TikTok has since pulled the disturbing footage from its platform. A U.S. spokesperson for the app said on Wednesday that its automated moderation system flagged Hilton's livestream several minutes in and routed it to a human review team.

A moderation error, however, delayed the stream's removal. The spokesperson added that TikTok notified law enforcement about the broadcast, which reportedly ran for approximately 15 minutes.

Hilton's account has since been deactivated and subsequently banned from the platform. TikTok stated that the livestream's content violated its community guidelines surrounding self-harm.

Prior to the incident, Hilton had been hospitalized twice this year. He was first hospitalized in Las Vegas with severe sepsis back in March. Then in April, he revealed he'd been hospitalized again, this time for a deep vein thrombosis in his right leg.