TikTok confirms why it didn't immediately intervene in Perez Hilton's disturbing livestream
Warning: This article contains discussion of self-harm which some readers may find distressing.
TikTok has explained why a livestream in which Perez Hilton appeared to self-harm was allowed to go ahead despite its distressing content.
On Tuesday evening (August 4), Hilton, real name Mario Lavandeira Jr., broadcast the live video on the platform, with viewers reportedly begging him to stop.
Hilton, 48, was taken to hospital after authorities were alerted to the situation and arrived at his home in Miami, Florida. He is now receiving medical treatment.
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A spokesperson for TikTok has since confirmed to LADbible Group that the blogger's livestream was flagged within minutes, but a moderator error delayed its removal.
TikTok said it immediately alerted law enforcement and that the livestream violated the platform's Community Guidelines. Hilton's account was also banned, according to TikTok.
The Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office has said that during the livestream it received 'multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media'.
After receiving the reports, the office said it dispatched mental health professionals and a crisis response unit to Hilton's home.
TikTok has official guidelines around the content which is permitted on its platform.
This includes 'content that shows, promotes, or provides instructions for suicide or self-harm', and also 'graphic, violent, or disturbing content'.
It has explained that it uses both automatic moderators as well as human moderators to flag up and monitor any content which breaches these guidelines.
The platform also said a number of other livestreams were started after the first one was cut off, but these were all identified and stopped within 90 seconds of beginning.
However, screen recordings of the livestream have subsequently been circulated across social media. As a result, some users have posted advice that people avoid any mentions or tags of Hilton, and turn off autoplay on videos to avoid accidentally stumbling across the content.
Hilton's team and family released a statement on August 5, thanking fans for their support.
It read: "Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez. Your compassionate humanity during this profoundly 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. 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.
"We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover. We will share additional updates as we receive confirmed information and are able to do so. For now, we’re taking things one step at a time and keeping our focus where it belongs, on Perez and his recovery.
"Again, thank you, truly, for all your support and compassion. We are so grateful."
A previous statement confirmed that he was receiving medical care.
UNILAD has approached representatives of Perez Hilton for comment.
Who is Perez Hilton?
Perez Hilton, real name Mario Lavandeira, is a celebrity gossip columnist, whose pen name is a pun on socialite Paris Hilton.
He launched his website PerezHilton.com in 2004, originally using free WiFi in coffee shops because he couldn’t afford to install an internet connection in his home.
But he became infamous in the Noughties for his controversial coverage of the era’s biggest stars.
He had high-profile friendships with the likes of Lady Gaga, Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan, but other celebs such as Mila Kunis called out what she described as his ‘mean’ coverage.
Hilton appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015. He also fronted ITV show Perez Hilton Superfan in 2011, with appearances from Katy Perry, Kelly Rowland and Enrique Iglesias.
Writing in his 2020 memoir TMI: My Life in Scandal, Hilton said: “I have a ton of regrets, particularly because I now see that I never needed to be so mean or cruel.
“One of the many things I regret is that I hurt so many people by giving them nasty nicknames, and above all that I was unkind to the children of celebrities.
“I have apologised publicly and privately to dozens of people."
In March 2026, Hilton was hospitalised with sepsis for three weeks from a perforated ulcer and was forced to undergo emergency surgery.
He said that following the experience, he would ‘start taking the kids to church every week’.
Hilton is a single father to three children: Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.
If you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call National Suicide Prevention Helpline on 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The Helpline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Topics: US News, TikTok, Mental Health, Social Media
Kit Roberts