Perez Hilton reportedly wants to see the disturbing livestream that preceded his hospitalization - but those closest to the celebrity blogger apparently believe watching it now could do more harm than good.
The 48-year-old internet personality remains in recovery following the frightening August 4 incident, when authorities responded after viewers raised alarms about a TikTok livestream involving self-harm. Hilton was subsequently hospitalized and placed under Florida's Baker Act for psychiatric evaluation.
Now, a new report claims Hilton has little or no memory of what unfolded during the approximately 15-minute livestream and has been asking to see the footage for himself. His family, however, is reportedly refusing to let him watch it while he remains in the early stages of recovery.
"He doesn't need to see his lowest point of his life, especially not this soon afterwards," a source close to Hilton told the Daily Mail.
According to the report, Hilton currently does not have normal access to the internet or electronic devices, leaving him largely separated from the enormous online reaction that followed the incident. His family is reportedly trying to protect him from both the footage and potentially damaging social-media commentary.
Instead, those around Hilton have reportedly been emphasizing the outpouring of concern and encouragement he has received.
"Everyone is telling him that the world is very supportive of him," the source said.
The latest revelation comes as more details about Hilton's recovery and family situation have emerged. His mother has reportedly been granted temporary custody of his three children, while Hilton has been allowed supervised visitation contingent upon psychiatric clearance.
Hilton's family previously said he remained hospitalized and was receiving inpatient medical and mental-health treatment following the incident. His sister has also spoken publicly about what could be a lengthy road to recovery.
For someone who built much of his career chronicling other celebrities' most public controversies, Hilton now finds himself on the other side of an intensely public story - while reportedly being deliberately shielded from much of what millions of people have seen and discussed online.
The biggest question may no longer be what happened during those disturbing minutes, but when - or whether - Hilton should ever watch them for himself.
