Gossip blogger Perez Hilton has received no public or private support from his celebrity friends while receiving inpatient care at a Miami hospital following a live-streamed self-harm incident, according to a family friend.
The 48-year-old media personality, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., has been hospitalized since August 4 after an alarming TikTok livestream showed him seemingly covered in blood, holding a large knife and appearing to harm himself inside his Florida home.
Lying in a hospital bed in pain and covered in scars, Hilton has asked whether his famous friends have reached out to send well wishes. Family members and close friends say they do not have the heart to tell him the truth.
Hilton has been fed the same encouraging words for days that his friends are all in his corner. However, a family friend close to Hilton told the Daily Mail that the blogger has not received a single bouquet, get-well card or text from the high-profile figures he spent years cultivating.
"All the ones he wanted to reach out, all the celebrities who he has mended fences with, all the ones who said he's their friend. None of them are doing anything," the family friend said. "He's about to find out who his real friends are."
"We don't even know how to break this news to him, he'll be crushed," the family friend added. "It's sad really, how little people are rallying behind him. People who have told him they love him, but where are they?"
The family insider noted that "people who said they were his friends have not spoken out, not shown any support, publicly or privately," adding: "They know who they are."
Hilton is currently receiving inpatient treatment at an undisclosed facility under Florida's Baker Act. The Florida Mental Health Act, commonly referred to as the Baker Act, allows for temporary involuntary mental health examination and treatment of individuals suspected of experiencing severe mental crisis.
Silence From Celebrity Allies
Despite being the notorious chronicler of many celebrities' private lives through his gossip blog, several A-list figures had eventually befriended Hilton over the years. He enjoyed close bonds with Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Adele as they emerged as rising stars. He also publicly supported actress Amanda Bynes through her public difficulties, which she frequently reposted.
Reality television star Spencer Pratt even made Hilton the godfather of his son, Gunner. Hilton had also made amends with celebrities he previously feuded with, including Khloe Kardashian and Britney Spears, whom he had mocked over their looks and personal troubles for years.
Public support for Hilton has also been minimal following the incident. Supernatural star Jared Padalecki, who has spoken publicly about his own mental health struggles, initially posted a message of support on X directly to Hilton: "I hope you are trying as best as you can to be kind to yourself right now."
Padalecki deleted the post the following day and issued an apology, writing that he "didn't know" about Hilton's history as a celebrity tabloid blogger.
At the same time, Hilton's family is attempting to shield him from public criticism. The family friend told the Daily Mail they are "pretty offended" by several high-profile individuals celebrating his breakdown, specifically calling out Ireland Baldwin, the daughter of actor Alec Baldwin.
Ireland Baldwin, who frequently landed in the crosshairs of Hilton's gossip site, posted on X after his hospitalization that Hilton "was a piece of s**t but I wish him well."
"Like Ireland saying he was a piece of s**t, why? Why make a dig? Why go there if you want to say something, do you need to get your pound of flesh?" the family friend said. "Those are the ones that we don't want him seeing, we don't need him to see people saying things like that, it'll just make him spiral."
Medical Condition and Police Response
Family members report that Hilton has a long road to recovery but is "healing up" under medical supervision. He received extensive stitching for injuries that will leave significant scarring, though a family friend confirmed that "physically he is going to be ok."
Insiders offered insight into potential factors behind his mental breakdown, revealing that Hilton had been sporadic at taking several prescribed medications for mental health issues prior to the livestream. He maintained stockpiles of leftover medications and may have attempted to "catch up" on missed doses before the incident occurred.
Hilton was also pictured following a separate health scare in March. On August 4, officers from the Miami-Dade Police Department were dispatched to Hilton's residence after TikTok viewers watched his alarming livestream and alerted law enforcement authorities.
Financial Chaos and Family Custody
As Hilton remains hospitalized, his family is dealing with legal and financial complications. On August 7, 2026, his mother, Teresita Lavandeira, filed for temporary legal custody of his three children in a Miami family court.
Hilton has no access to his phone or electronic devices while in treatment, leaving his family to handle his personal finances and business operations. The family friend disclosed that Hilton's finances are in complete disarray because the blogger kept "a lot of stuff on his phone and is secretive" about his bills and earnings.
"There's no rhyme or reason and he can't really explain it. It's a matter of guessing whether or not things are getting paid, and hoping that nothing falls between the cracks," the family friend said.
Hilton was already low on money and struggling to secure work, with reality show pitches failing to progress past initial stages. Although he recently signed a deal with a television production company to host a show about cyberbullying, he had not been paid and network executives were still attempting to create a role for him.
Website Operations and Turning to Faith
Without a detailed schedule of upcoming bills, Hilton's family has been forced to decipher piling expenses while attempting to stabilize his gossip blog, which remains his last source of income. Web traffic to PerezHilton.com cratered following an initial surge after the livestream.
"There was a bump at first but nothing new. And it's the only thing he has to pay the bills, so the site has to start publishing stories," the family friend explained, noting that Perez's team, primarily his sister, is responsible for writing stories. "It's not at Mario's direction but he knows it's being done to keep the lights on."
Publishing on PerezHilton.com resumed on Monday. Moving forward, the blog's traditionally snarky tone will be drastically altered. "It won't be mean, it won't be calling people out, but there is celebrity news happening and people are used to going to his site to read about it," the family friend said.
While recovering, Hilton is focused on his faith. The family friend shared that Hilton has a Bible with him in treatment, is praying regularly, and is relying on his faith to support his recovery: "He has a bible with him and he's really reading it. Praying... He's really committed to it."
