Perez Hilton, 48, was treated for a suspected overdose after a distressing livestream prompted emergency responders to his Miami home, the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed.
The incident report revealed that when paramedics arrived at the residence last Tuesday, they evaluated and treated the celebrity blogger—born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr.—for a suspected substance overdose before transporting him to a local hospital under close observation. The disclosure from law enforcement provides the first official medical context for the sudden ending of the broadcast, which had sparked days of widespread concern and speculation across social media platforms.
Hilton initially alarmed followers during the TikTok livestream by engaging in visible self-harm, prompting frantic viewers to contact emergency services for a welfare check. A TikTok spokesperson told multiple outlets that the platform’s automated moderation system flagged the livestream within minutes, but a “moderator error” delayed its removal, with the stream remaining accessible for approximately 15 minutes. The spokesperson noted that subsequent livestreams were cut off within 90 seconds, and that TikTok proactively contacted law enforcement to help get Hilton support.
First responders arrived at Hilton’s residence shortly after viewers reported the disturbing broadcast. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies spoke with family members on scene and confirmed Hilton was alone inside before they “tactically disengaged while continuing to monitor the situation and providing the needed support to his family.” The sheriff’s office stated that in incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis, deputies prioritize de-escalation “by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication.”
Hilton’s sister, Barbara Lavandeira, gave a harrowing account of what she witnessed upon arriving at the home. “When I opened the door, my nightmare became a reality,” she said. “Mario was standing in front of the shower, naked, cut up, covered in blood.”
Lavandeira said the image has stayed with her. “What I can say with certainty is that I didn’t recognize my brother when I looked at him,” she continued. “I saw it in his eyes. They didn’t look the same,” She added that Hilton smiled at her moments later, saying it felt like she was “staring at someone else.” She immediately got his children to safety and awaited the arrival of emergency services.
In the viral moment that preceded the law enforcement confirmation, Hilton had appeared on camera covered in blood and using an object to cut himself repeatedly, according to graphic clips reposted on social media. The broadcast was viewed by thousands before its removal, and Hilton’s TikTok account has since been banned for violating the platform’s community guidelines against showing or promoting self-harm. The sheriff’s office later confirmed to People that Hilton was hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows authorities to hold someone involuntarily if they pose a threat of harm to themselves.
Hilton’s family released a statement on his website in the immediate aftermath, thanking the public for their support. “We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope,” the statement read. “We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover.” The family added that they were “taking things one step at a time and keeping our focus where it belongs, on Perez and his recovery.”
Lavandeira also addressed online criticism dubbing the ordeal as “karma,” acknowledging that her brother has admitted wrongdoing from his earlier career and apologized for his conduct. “I’m simply asking people to recognize that he has changed tremendously over the past 20 years and has genuinely tried to become a better person,” she said. She stressed that she was not asking anyone to forget or excuse Hilton’s past, but urged people to separate their feelings about him from the family members caught up in the crisis. “Whatever anyone thinks about Mario, his children and our mother are innocent,” Lavandeira added. “They shouldn’t be punished or tormented because of how people feel about him.”
Earlier this year, Hilton shared in a lengthy Instagram video that he was hospitalized for three weeks after initially battling the flu before developing “an ulcer, and then a perforation and then sepsis.” He explained that “the sepsis just kept working and my body kept falling apart,” and that one night rapid response came because his heart got out of control. After his release, Hilton said he came to the realization “that God presented Himself to me” during the challenging experience. In June, he said he had recently relocated to Miami from Las Vegas with his three children, ages 13, 11, and 8.
Representatives for Hilton have not yet released an official statement regarding his current recovery status, and authorities have not provided further specifics regarding the substances involved in the suspected overdose.