Perez Hilton’s Family Says They 'Fled' Home Shortly After He Livestreamed Apparent Self-Harm

The chaotic scene outside the gossip blogger's Florida home earlier this week ended with police forcing entry after a livestream took a terrifying turn. Now, his family is opening up about what actually happened — and what they need from the public going forward.

On Tuesday evening, August 4, Perez Hilton started a TikTok livestream that ended with him covered in blood and holding a large knife. Alarmed viewers called emergency services, which were quickly dispatched to his home.

When deputies from the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office arrived, they spent hours trying to talk him down. According to dispatch audio obtained by People, Hilton was hospitalized after responders were sent to his home following reports of a "possible suicide."

The audio revealed that authorities "made entry" into the house around 11 p.m. and were "en route" to a local hospital by roughly 11:30 p.m.

The sheriff's office also confirmed to People that Hilton was placed in hospital under Florida's Baker Act, a state law permitting authorities to involuntarily hold someone believed to pose a danger to themselves or others.

Following an initial press release, Hilton's family has now offered more insight into what led to the mental health crisis.

"Our family cannot express enough our continued gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers we have received during this incredibly difficult time," the statement began. "The events of the past several days have been nearly unbearable for our family."

The release also disclosed that Hilton's children, along with his niece and sister, were inside the home just minutes before the livestream turned frightening.

"When it became clear that Perez was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself, they immediately fled to protect the children from witnessing any further trauma," the statement continued.

With the immediate crisis behind them, the family says their attention has shifted to Hilton's recovery and to helping his children process what they went through.

"Our highest priority right now is helping the children begin to heal from what they experienced. An important part of that process is allowing them to safely return home and begin rebuilding a sense of security and normalcy," the statement added.

They went on to make a direct appeal to the press and public:

"For the children's safety, privacy, and well-being, we respectfully ask members of the media, paparazzi, content creators, and the public to leave the area surrounding the family's home and not return. Please allow his children the privacy and space they need during this unimaginably difficult time."

Before this latest statement, Hilton's family had already confirmed on Wednesday, August 5, that the 48-year-old was able to communicate. Still, a source close to the situation says he remains deeply shaken by the experience.

"He's really suffering. He's a man in a lot of pain. I think right now he's focused on the physical, but it's all tied together. No one deserves the torment he's going through," the source told the Daily Mail, adding that Hilton is now stable and alert.

"He was able to articulate himself [to his mother in hospital] but I don't think he's quite self-aware enough yet [to understand exactly what happened]," the source continued. "He's still in a dark place as I understand it. Just very very sad."