Perez Hilton is reconnecting with his children while he continues treatment. His family says the internet personality, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., has had video calls and a short supervised visit with his three kids: Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8. In a statement, the family said seeing his children in person has meant an enormous amount to him.
The road here has been a hard one. Hilton was hospitalized on Aug. 4 after an apparent self-harm incident that was livestreamed on TikTok. His mother, Teresita Lavandeira, was granted temporary custody of the children, and on Sept. 14 his family announced he had transferred into a residential treatment program. Communication with him remains limited, and no one has said when he might come home.
Friends have stepped up in a big way. A GoFundMe launched by his friend Tom D’Angora has raised $14,333 of a $25,000 goal, and the family noted that none of the money will be used for Hilton personally. It’s all aimed at keeping his kids supported while he focuses on his care.
What’s your take on how social platforms handle mental health crises on livestreams? Let us know in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.