Perez Hilton, the pseudonym of Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., rose to fame as a polarizing celebrity gossip blogger in the mid-2000s. His blog, PerezHilton.com, launched in 2005, quickly became a go-to source for celebrity news, but his caustic style and aggressive tactics earned him both a massive following and a reputation as "Hollywood's Most-Hated Website." In recent years, Hilton has faced significant health challenges, including a hospitalization in March 2026 for sepsis and deep vein thrombosis, and another in August 2026 after appearing to harm himself during a TikTok livestream.
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Before his blogging fame, Hilton worked as a journalist, including a stint as managing editor of the magazine Instinct. However, he rejected the traditional journalist label, instead embracing the role of a gossip monger. In a 2010 interview with Cliché Magazine, Hilton explained his unique approach: "What set my site apart is that prior to PerezHilton.com, most blogs were mainly online journals and diaries, but that never interested me. I wanted to talk about celebrities because they're far more entertaining."
His blog focused on celebrity culture, often featuring paparazzi photos with humorous captions. This approach, however, led to numerous controversies, including copyright infringement lawsuits. In November 2006, photo agency X17Online filed a lawsuit against him, seeking more than $7.5 million in damages. Hilton defended his use of photos as fair use, and the case was settled out of court in 2009.
Controversies and Backlash
Hilton's career has been marred by accusations of bullying, spreading unverified rumors, and using slurs. One of the most significant controversies involved allegedly outing gay celebrities, including Lance Bass and Neil Patrick Harris. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Hilton defended his actions: "It upsets me that people think what I'm doing is a bad thing. I don't think it's a bad thing. If you know something to be a fact, why not report it? Why is that still taboo?"
LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including GLAAD, heavily criticized his behavior. In 2010, Hilton faced backlash for sharing an upskirt photo of Miley Cyrus, who was then 17, on Twitter, raising questions about child pornography. He argued that Cyrus was wearing underwear, sharing another image to support his claim. In 2007, he falsely reported the death of Cuban President Fidel Castro, adding to his list of bizarre controversies.
Recent Health Struggles
Hilton has been open about his health issues. In March 2026, he was hospitalized with sepsis and later treated for deep vein thrombosis. On August 5, 2026, during a TikTok livestream, Hilton appeared to harm himself, prompting worried viewers to contact emergency services. He was "safely recovered" and transported to a local hospital. His representatives, Dante Rusciolelli and Rebekah Kochan of Golden Artists Entertainment, told TMZ: "We are aware of the concerning content circulating online involving our client, Perez Hilton. At this time, we have not been able to make direct contact with him, despite our ongoing efforts to reach him. Our primary concern is Perez's health and well-being, as well as the well-being of his family. Until we have confirmed information, we will not speculate or comment further."
Celebrity Big Brother Stint
In 2015, Hilton appeared on series 15 of the UK's Celebrity Big Brother. He was evicted on day 29, becoming the seventh housemate to leave. His time in the house was marked by conflicts with other housemates, including a warning for threatening behavior towards Ken Morley and a final formal warning for using offensive language during an argument with Calum Best.
Personal Life and Family
Despite his surname, Hilton is not related to the Hilton hotel dynasty. He is an unmarried, single father to three children, all born via surrogates. In his 2020 memoir, TMI: My Life in Scandal, he expressed regret for his past cruelty: "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."
