In brief
Perez Hilton, a veteran celebrity gossip blogger, suffered self‑harm while livestreaming on TikTok and was admitted to a Miami hospital in a serious but stable condition. Emergency services responded after viewers raised concerns while watching the video, and the sheriff’s office confirmed a scene of a man “livestreaming acts of self‑harm.” The blogger’s family released a statement outlining significant blood loss and the expectation of surgery, while the state’s Baker Act ensures he receives crisis mental health services. TikTok’s moderation team flagged the stream, removed the content and banned the account, but a moderator error caused a delay. Unofficially, the incident underscores the importance of real‑time monitoring and support for mental‑health crises online.
Official statements say the 48‑year‑old is in a serious but stable condition after emergency services were called Tuesday to his Miami home.
Emergency services were called after members of the public reported concerns while watching a TikTok livestream. The Miami sheriff's office confirmed they attended a scene of a man "livestreaming acts of self‑harm" on Tuesday; the man was alone in the house at the time.
A statement released on the 48‑year‑old's website said he "experienced significant blood loss" and that his treatment and recovery would be a "long process." The family added that the blogger has been admitted under Florida's Baker Act, which focuses on providing services for people experiencing a mental‑health crisis.
The father‑of‑three, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, is expected to have surgery in the coming days. A TikTok spokesman said its automated moderation systems flagged the livestream within minutes for review. A moderator error caused a delay in removal, but the company alerted law enforcement to the situation, closed several subsequent streams within 90 seconds, and banned the account.
For those affected by any of the issues in this story, help and support is available at BBC Action Line.
