Hollywood gossip blogger Perez Hilton could be held in a psychiatric facility for six months or longer following a self-harm livestream, according to legal details reported by the Daily Mail. Hilton, 48, whose real name is Mario Lavandeira Jr, was hospitalized last Tuesday night under Florida's Baker Act after TikTok users saw him repeatedly slash his body with a knife.
Doctors are treating the blogger for significant blood loss and undisclosed injuries at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. A source told the Daily Mail that Hilton is likely to suffer permanent scarring from his multiple wounds. A friend of the blogger stated, "Perez knows that something happened and he knows that things aren't good right now," but added that "he doesn't have a lot of presence of mind. He's not able to fully process what happened."
The friend stated that the recovery will take months or years rather than days. A statement shared on Hilton's website confirmed that his condition remains serious but stable, adding that he sustained significant blood loss and additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days.
When Hilton is medically discharged, he will not be permitted to go home immediately. Instead, he will be transferred to a secure psychiatric facility where specialists will have 72 hours to assess his mental health under Florida's Baker Act, which allows for temporary involuntary detention of individuals in mental crisis.
Mark Astor, a veteran Florida attorney specializing in Baker Act cases and partner at Astor Simovitch Law, told the Daily Mail that walking free after 72 hours is a long shot. "You don't just get to walk out of there after 72 hours," Astor said. "Whether it's a mental health issue, drugs, or all of the above, they need to get to the bottom of what has happened here. Period."
Legal Process and Court Hearing Options
Astor outlined three legal possibilities for Hilton once the 72-hour assessment window ends: "Number one, they could release him. Number two, they get him to agree to stay on a voluntary basis. Or number three, they could file what's known as a petition for involuntary placement." If a petition is filed, a Miami-Dade judge must hold a hearing within five days to determine whether Hilton should remain in care.
The hearing would take place inside the facility and remain confidential, with media barred from attending. "There's going to be a prosecutor from the state attorney's office, and either a private defense lawyer or a court-appointed public defender," Astor explained. "There'll probably be a doctor there from the facility saying this is why we need more time."
Although patients can be held for a maximum of six months at a time, Astor predicted a 30-day order is more realistic in Hilton's case.
Hilton's family plays a central role in deciding his next steps. His mother, Teresita Lavandeira, 72, has stayed at his bedside at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital since the incident. She and her daughter, Barbara Giarraffa, 42, could persuade authorities to release Hilton to a private facility, which costs between $15,000 and $30,000 per month.
Family Decisions and Guardianship Options
The family could also apply for legal guardianship to take healthcare decision-making authority away from the State of Florida. "If he's willing to get help, great. It's possible they come to an agreement with the state for what's known as a bed-to-bed transfer," Astor explained. "They could potentially file for a guardianship. In effect, they would be saying to the judge, listen, we want to get the state out of the picture here. He's got a family that loves him and we want to be the decisionmakers for him."
Hilton's three children, Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8, all born via surrogacy, are currently in the custody of their grandmother. Family members have not brought the children to the hospital because they fear it would be too traumatic. A statement from Hilton's team confirmed that his children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family.
The three children were inside Hilton's rented home in Westchester, Florida, on August 5 when he began acting erratically. Teresita Lavandeira ushered the children outside and called for help. A neighbor's Ring camera captured Miami-Dade Sheriff's deputies attempting to coax Hilton from the property before deciding to tactfully disengage and monitor the situation. Dispatch records from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office described the incident as a suicide attempt.
Previous Sepsis Battle and Recovery Outlook
Hilton moved from Las Vegas to Miami earlier this summer to focus on his family following a severe bout of sepsis that required 21 days in the hospital and two surgeries in March. In a subsequent interview with the Daily Mail, Hilton revealed that the near-death experience prompted him to become a born-again Christian.
Astor noted that the public nature of the self-harm livestream suggested a cry for help. "This has probably been a long time coming. He just reached the point of no return," Astor said. "The fact that he did it online on TikTok suggests he was praying for help: 'Somebody come and save me.' The idea here is to get him back in the game, not to tarnish him or take his children away. I think he's going to get the help he needs and he's going to be a dad again."
A statement posted to the Perez Hilton website read: "Perez's condition remains serious but stable. He experienced significant blood loss and sustained additional injuries that will require surgery in the coming days. His treatment and recovery will be a long process. We are grateful that Perez was able to spend time with his mother and sister yesterday. As our family remains focused on Perez's treatment and recovery, we also need the space and privacy to care for everyone affected by this situation."
If you or someone you know needs help in the US, call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. In the UK, call Samaritans at 116 123. In Australia, call Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.
