Perez Hilton’s mum makes major move to gain temporary custody of his children after hospitalisation

Warning: This article contains discussion of self-harm which some readers may find distressing.

Perez Hilton’s mother, Teresita Lavandeira, has filed for temporary custody of her three grandchildren following her son’s hospitalisation.

The petition was filed in a Miami family court on 7 August, three days after Hilton’s livestream in which he appeared to self-harm.

Emergency services were called to the 48-year-old celebrity blogger's home in Miami on last Tuesday (4 August) after members of the public reported seeing him appear to harm himself during a graphic livestream on TikTok.

His account on the platform was suspended.

Hilton has three children: Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight. They recently moved to Miami, where Hilton's mother resides.

According to Page Six, Hilton has 'voluntarily consented' to the custody request, which means his mum can give consent for necessary medical and dental care, gain access to the children's medical, vital and educational records, make educational decisions in addition to 'all other things necessary for the care of the children'.

In a statement released shortly after, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office confirmed that officers responded after receiving reports of a man ‘live-streaming acts of self-harm on social media’. Hilton was not initially named.

Perez Hilton with his mother Teresita Lavandeira (Serg Alexander/WireImage)

Deputies spoke with family members outside the property, who confirmed the person had been alone inside the residence. Officers then chose to 'tactically disengage' while continuing to monitor the situation.

"In many incidents involving a person experiencing a mental health crisis or actively harming themselves, deputies prioritise de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication," the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office said.

"Unless there is an immediate threat to others, slowing the situation and utilising crisis intervention techniques can reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter and minimise the risk of injury to the individual, deputies and the public."

In a follow-up statement, the sheriff's office confirmed the individual had been 'safely recovered' and later taken by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue to a local hospital, where he was receiving medical attention.

Hilton’s family previously shared an update, confirming that he had suffered ‘significant blood loss’ and ‘additional injuries’ during the incident and would require surgery.

They said Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr, would require surgery and added that his treatment and recovery would be a ‘long process’.

The statement, which was released on 8 August, said his condition was ‘serious but stable’.

Perez Hilton was hospitalised last week after an incident at his home (David Becker/Getty Images)

It went on: "Perez remains hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act. [His] children remain safe and are being cared for by immediate family."

A previous statement confirmed that Hilton's children, niece and sister were inside the home when he began his livestream and started experiencing 'a severe mental health crisis'.

It added: "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."

Who is Perez Hilton?

Perez Hilton, real name Mario Lavandeira, is a celebrity gossip columnist, whose pen name is a pun on socialite Paris Hilton.

He launched his website PerezHilton.com in 2004, originally using free WiFi in coffee shops because he couldn’t afford to install an internet connection in his home.

But he became infamous in the Noughties for his controversial coverage of the era’s biggest stars.

He had high-profile friendships with the likes of Lady Gaga, Amanda Bynes and Lindsay Lohan, but other celebs such as Mila Kunis called out what she described as his ‘mean’ coverage.

Hilton appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015. He also fronted ITV show Perez Hilton Superfan in 2011, with appearances from Katy Perry, Kelly Rowland and Enrique Iglesias.

Writing in his 2020 memoir TMI: My Life in Scandal, Hilton said: “I have a ton of regrets, particularly because I now see that I never needed to be so mean or cruel.

“One of the many things I regret is that I hurt so many people by giving them nasty nicknames, and above all that I was unkind to the children of celebrities.

“I have apologised publicly and privately to dozens of people."

In March 2026, Hilton was hospitalised with sepsis for three weeks from a perforated ulcer and was forced to undergo emergency surgery.

He said that following the experience, he would ‘start taking the kids to church every week’.

LADbible Group has contacted Perez Hilton representatives for a comment.

If you're experiencing distressing thoughts and feelings, the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is there to support you. They're open from 5pm–midnight, 365 days a year. Their national number is 0800 58 58 58 and they also have a webchat service if you're not comfortable talking on the phone.