Perez Hilton has entered a residential treatment programme for his mental health, while his mother has been granted temporary custody of his three children.
The blogger, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, is receiving inpatient care after self-harming during a TikTok livestream from his home in Miami on 4 August.
His family said in a statement that checking into the facility was “an important next step” in his recovery. He is expected to remain there for several weeks.
Hilton’s children, Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and eight-year-old Mayte, are staying together with their grandmother, Teresita Lavandeira, while he receives treatment.
“His three children remain together, safe, and doing well in the care of their grandmother, who has stepped in to care for them full-time during this unexpected chapter,” the family said.
It added that the priority was to provide the children with “as much stability, routine, and ‘normalcy’ as possible” while their father focused on recovering.
“Three children came frighteningly close to losing their father forever. There is nothing funny or entertaining about that,” the statement said.
During his inpatient treatment, Hilton does not have access to his phone or laptop. Friends and family are contacting him instead so that “he can focus fully on getting better”.
Anyone in Australia experiencing a mental health crisis can call Lifeline on 13 11 14, while people seeking information about depression can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or speak to a GP, local health professional or someone they trust.
