It's been three days since Perez Hilton's alarming livestream, and the 48-year-old has been recovering at a Miami hospital. Given the extreme nature of the incident, the world has been fixated, looking for updates. After his family shared a statement saying he can communicate, there are reports that he is talking again.
© FilmMagicOn Thursday, Daily Mail reported that Hilton shared his first words from the hospital bed. A source close to the celebrity blogger allegedly told the outlet his first words were, "I need help."
The three-word plea was reportedly directed at his mother, Teresita Lavandeira, after Hilton regained the ability to speak following what police are calling a suicide attempt.
© Getty ImagesA family friend of nearly 20 years told the Daily Mail that Hilton is now stable and alert but is "suffering."
"He's really suffering. He's a man in a lot of pain," the source said. "I think right now he's focused on the physical, but it's all tied together," they said, adding, "No one deserves the torment he's going through."
The insider added that Hilton "was able to articulate himself" but doesn't believe he has fully processed what happened. "He's still in a dark place as I understand it," the source said.
The update comes after authorities responded to Hilton's South Florida home following a disturbing livestream where he was nude, cutting himself with a knife.
The stream lasted several minutes and prompted multiple emergency calls from viewers.
Hilton was making amends for his past
© Getty Images for Fontainebleau LThere is no doubt that this was every bit a mental health crisis. Just weeks before his hospitalization, Hilton reflected on the emotional weight he has carried from his decades as one of Hollywood's most controversial celebrity bloggers.
During an appearance on Hang Out With Sean Hannity, filmed in July and released this week, he revealed he had been privately apologizing to stars he once targeted, including Britney Spears and Khloé Kardashian.
He said a chance encounter with Jennifer Aniston changed the way he viewed the celebrities he wrote about after she told him, "I'm a real person."
Hilton also revisited his past attempts to out Neil Patrick Harris in 2006, admitting, "I was, you know, trying to track down people that he dated." He later apologized to the actor, who eventually invited him to contribute to his 2014 memoir.
Reflecting on that chapter of his career, Hilton said he realized he "could still be fun" without being "so cheap" and "so cruel." Still, he admitted his past continues to weigh heavily on him. "It's like my scarlet letter," he said. "And it's very heavy baggage."
His family speaks out
In a statement released after the incident, Hilton's family thanked supporters for the "overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers."
© Getty ImagesThey said he is now "able to communicate, which has given our family hope," while asking for privacy as he continues to recover.
The family also confirmed that Hilton's children and other relatives who were at the home were removed from the scene, with their focus now on helping the children heal.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat online at https://988lifeline.org/chat/.
