Perez Hilton was placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold after experiencing a mental health crisis during a TikTok livestream.
Law enforcement returned to the celebrity gossip blogger’s Miami-area home on Wednesday, Aug. 5, one day after he appeared to harm himself with a knife while streaming live.
Hilton was covered with what looked like blood as alarmed viewers pleaded with him to stop cutting himself before the livestream ended.
Baker Acted
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office told NBC 6 South Florida that Hilton was “Baker Acted” after the livestream.
Under Florida law, the Baker Act allows a person experiencing a mental health crisis to be involuntarily taken to a facility for an emergency psychiatric evaluation and held for up to 72 hours.
The news station also reported workers from the Florida Department of Children and Families visited Hilton’s home on Wednesday.
The blogger, whose legal name is Mario Lavandeira Jr., is a single father of three children born via surrogacy. He was reportedly alone during the livestream that prompted law enforcement to respond to his home.
Criticism of TikTok
After facing questions as to why the stream wasn’t immediately removed, TikTok told several media outlets Wednesday the video was taken down after about 15 minutes.
The company said its moderation system flagged the stream minutes after it started, but a “moderator error” delayed its removal.
A spokesperson said the company quickly alerted law enforcement and Hilton’s account was banned.
Hilton’s family members released a statement on PerezHilton.com, saying they’ve received “very little information” about his condition. They also thanked fans for an outpouring of support.
“Your compassionate humanity during this profoundly heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express,” the statement read.
“This has been incredibly difficult and emotional for us, made even harder because very little information has been made available to our family. While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful.”
Hilton’s talent agency, Golden Artists Entertainment, issued a new statement asking fans to “please keep our client, Perez Hilton, in your thoughts and prayers.”
Personal Challenges
The content creator has faced a number of personal challenges in recent months.
On April 7, he posted an Instagram video from a Las Vegas hospital, saying he was beginning to walk again after spending 21 days hospitalized for sepsis and deep vein thrombosis.
In a June 17 Instagram video, Hilton announced he was moving back to Florida after spending the past three years in Nevada. He listed the reasons for his move as “God, faith, Jesus, health, and Cubans.”
Discover more from Urban Hollywood 411
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
