Perez Hilton's mother has filed for temporary custody of his three children following his hospitalization after a mental health crisis at his south Florida home. The legal action aims to ensure the safety and well-being of the children during this difficult time.
Custody Filing and Family's Priority
Court documents filed in Miami-Dade county and seen by multiple news outlets, including Miami's NBC 6, reveal that the request for custody was made by the 48-year-old blogger's mother. Her attorney, Natalie F Guerra-Valdes, stated: "My main concern and objective, as well as the family's, is to protect the children and make sure they are safe." Guerra-Valdes added, "We want them to have some sense of normalcy as they begin their journey of healing after the tragic events that occurred last week."
Incident and Hospitalization
On 4 August, Hilton posted a now-deleted TikTok live stream from his home that appeared to show him naked and covered in blood, with visible cuts and holding what appeared to be a knife. The Miami-Dade sheriff's office responded after receiving "multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media." Hilton's identity was later confirmed, and he was "Baker-Acted," a Florida law allowing involuntary psychiatric evaluation for up to 72 hours during a mental health crisis.
His family said on Saturday he remained hospitalized in serious condition but had been stabilized, though his injuries would require surgery. They also revealed that his three children, niece, and sister were inside the home "minutes before" the live stream began. "When it became clear that Perez was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself, they immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma," a statement on the Perez Hilton website said.
Background and Family's Request
Hilton, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira, is known for pioneering the celebrity gossip blog business in the mid-2000s. He is reported to be a single parent to children all under the age of 14, born via surrogacy. The family has asked the public to "leave the area surrounding the family's home."
"Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced," the statement reads. "An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy." The family says it "remains focused on Perez's treatment and recovery."
