Katie Price has voiced her deep concern for celebrity blogger Perez Hilton following his hospitalisation for self-harm during a TikTok livestream. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, prompted viewers to alert emergency services, who intervened at his Miami residence using crisis techniques. Hilton, born Mario Lavandeira, was taken to hospital for evaluation, and his family has since thanked the public for their support.
Price's Reaction and Friendship
Price, who has been friends with Hilton for nearly two decades, told The Sun: 'I am really concerned for Perez and his mental health. It's so sad to see him like this. I'm shocked by what has happened. I've always liked Perez.' She added, 'I will reach out to him and his family.'
The pair first met in Los Angeles in 2008 during filming for Price's reality show 'Katie and Peter: The Next Chapter' with then-husband Peter Andre. They later shared the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2015, where Price won and Hilton was evicted on day 29. Hilton, also 48, has three children via surrogacy, a topic Price says they have discussed over the years.
Mental Health Struggles and Shared Experiences
Price, who has been open about her own mental health battles, including severe depression, two breakdowns in 2018 and 2021, PTSD, and a suicide attempt, drew parallels between their public personas. 'I'm a celebrity like him – controversial,' she said. 'He's not everyone's cup of tea, but then again, neither am I.'
Price has previously stayed at The Priory and undergone therapy to manage her conditions. Ahead of her recent Sky documentary, she admitted, 'When I had my breakdown, I don't think people really knew how bad it was and how it affected people in my life.'
Hilton's Family Update and TikTok's Response
Hilton's family issued a statement via his blog, noting he is 'able to communicate' but describing the time as 'incredibly difficult.' They wrote, '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.'
The family also asked for 'continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover' and promised to share updates as they receive confirmed information. TikTok, which faced criticism for allowing the graphic stream to remain live for 15 minutes, attributed the delay to a 'moderator error' and has since suspended Hilton's account.
Support Resources
For those affected by similar issues, the Samaritans offer 24-hour support at 116 123, and PAPYRUS provides suicide prevention for young people via HOPELINE247 at 0800 068 4141.
