Five weeks after he engaged in self-harm during a livestream, celebrity blogger and podcaster Perez Hilton has entered a residential treatment program, his family said in an update.
“This was an important next step, but there’s still a long road ahead,” Hilton’s family wrote in a statement.
The Miami-based internet personality is expected to remain in the program for at least several more weeks. He does not have access to his phone or laptop, and contact with family and friends remains limited, according to the update.
“Perez is alive, he’s getting help, and he’s surrounded by people who want to see him healthy and happy again,” the family said.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Department responded to his home on Aug. 4 after reports emerged that the single father of three was livestreaming self-harm.
The video, which was streamed on TikTok before the platform pulled it, appeared to show Hilton covered in blood, with visible cuts and holding what appeared to be a knife. Viewers pleaded with him and asked for his phone number so they could alert authorities.
Hilton, 48, became famous in the early 2000s for publicizing and sometimes belittling celebrities who made public gaffes or found themselves in legal trouble. His brand of Hollywood gossip mixed with occasionally mean-spirited commentary made him an instant online sensation but also contributed to his reputation as a toxic, if amusing, personality. In 2010, he apologized for participating in bullying behavior.
He recently moved with his three kids to Miami from their home in Las Vegas. His three children are safe and remain in the care of their grandmother, the family said in Monday’s update.
“We are incredibly grateful for the continued outpouring of love, kindness, and well wishes for Perez and his children. Every thoughtful message has been appreciated,” the statement read.
Since the Aug. 4 incident, rumors have swirled online that Hilton lost his memory and is covered in gauze from injuries sustained during his mental health crisis. His family dispelled those rumors on Monday and asked the public to stop spreading malicious gossip about Hilton.
“Perez has spent years acknowledging, apologizing for, and genuinely trying to grow from the things he said and did earlier in his career,” his family said in their statement. “The internet has a way of preserving old versions of people, even when the person behind them has changed. No one has to forget his past or accept his apologies. But we hope we can all agree that celebrating someone’s suicide attempt crosses a line.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in emotional distress, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For additional resources, visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.
