Perez Hilton’s brother-in-law is sharing an update on the celebrity blogger’s well-being, three weeks after he appeared to self-harm during a disturbing livestream.
In an interview recorded on Sunday, August 23, for “The Perez Hilton Podcast” cohosted by Chris Booker, Hilton’s brother-in-law, Tom, who is married to his sister Barbara Lavandeira, said that “up until about 48 hours or so ago from this recording, he was being treated for physical issues” related to the August 4 incident at his home in Miami.
According to Tom, Hilton, 48, suffered numerous cuts and several broken bones from “a couple of falls” that happened during the episode. He has been hospitalized ever since.
“So we are now just transitioning into the mental side of things,” Tom said. “Of course, while he’s been treated for his physical ailments, psychiatrists come in and check in and see how he’s doing, make sure he’s not looking to harm himself, that kind of thing. But the actual healing or digging into what caused this mental break, as I called it, hasn’t been discovered completely.”
Tom said that Hilton — real name Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr. — is “lucid” in the hospital and has had conversations with him, as well as his mother and sister.
Asked if Hilton remembered the August 4 incident or understood what happened, Tom said, “I didn’t dig into that too much when I spoke to him. I didn’t want to trigger any anxiety for him. I wanted him to really focus on his physical ailments … actual recovery of the lacerations and the bones.”
“I don’t know how much he really does recall or doesn’t recall,” the star’s brother-in-law added.
Tom said that Hilton’s children have not been able to visit him in the hospital, and he has had no access to electronic devices amid his hospitalization. (Hilton is dad to Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, 8. His mom, Teresita Lavandeira, was granted temporary custody of the kids earlier this month.)
“He’s able to talk to people like his family and people that he calls through the nursing station,” Tom said. “So he’s able to call Barbara, he’s able to call his mom, he’s able to call me.”
Tom said he hopes that Hilton will eventually be reunited with his children, “with the advice of psychiatric help,” following the traumatic incident that occurred earlier this month.
In an August 5 statement, Hilton’s family said, “Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez. Your compassionate humanity during this profoundly heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express. This has been incredibly difficult and emotional for us, made even harder because very little information has been made available to our family. While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful.”
The family said that Hilton had been “able to communicate,” adding, “[This] has given our family hope.”
Hilton’s family later said in an August 16 update, “At this time, Perez remains hospitalized and is receiving the medical care he needs. His treatment is continuing in an inpatient setting under the care of a dedicated team of medical and mental health professionals.”
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