Perez Hilton has said he believes he was the subject of a “spiritual attack” after a disturbing livestream in which he appeared to harm himself with a knife. The 48-year-old celebrity blogger is recovering in a Florida hospital after the incident in August. He remains under medical supervision and is unable to see his three children for the time being.
A source told the Daily Mail that Hilton believes the episode was linked to his decision to become a Christian earlier this year. “Hilton is convinced that he was under spiritual attack. This is spiritual warfare,” the source said. “He believes that the devil is not happy that he became a Christian, and was doing whatever to attack him.”
The source added that Hilton had become “more committed to his faith than ever” since what he described as an encounter with God in March.
Hilton spoke publicly about his religious experience after surviving a serious medical crisis that began with a stomach ulcer and severe sepsis. In an emotional Instagram video in March, he said: “God presented himself to me. I was never a believer until now.”
He described the experience as “miraculous” and said he had been “very lucid”. “I could only call it miraculous. And I was very lucid,” he said. “It was real. And this has been life-changing. I’m so grateful.”
Hilton said that although he had grown up Catholic, attended a Jesuit school and had been baptised, he had not previously been a believer.
“I grew up Catholic. I was baptized, had my Communion, was confirmed and went to a Jesuit school for seven years. But I was never a believer until now,” he said. He also claimed that God had instructed him to sell his $4m home in Las Vegas and move to Miami.
A week after his religious testimony, Hilton posted another video in which he apologised for his past behaviour towards celebrities. “I made a lot of mistakes in my past. We all have. Nobody’s perfect,” he said.
He said he felt “deep shame and regret” over his past actions and had apologised to people publicly and privately.
“Because I was so selfish, because I didn’t care who I hurt, I just cared about the views, the attention, the money,” he said.
Hilton is now recovering from injuries sustained during the August livestream. According to the Daily Mail’s sources, doctors stitched up dozens of cuts, while broken bones reportedly caused by a fall have affected his mobility.
He has been placed under Florida’s Baker Act, which permits the temporary involuntary detention of people experiencing a mental health crisis. His phone and internet access have been taken away while he receives treatment. “He’s reading his Bible and praying while getting treatment,” a source said. “Leaning on Christ like never before. He’s really leaning in.”
The source said Hilton’s wounds were “healing up well – better than expected”.
“That’s given him some real encouragement. If his physical health is improving, then mentally and spiritually he must be improving as well,” the source said.
Hilton is also said to be trying to understand what happened during the livestream. “He’s got a clarity now that he didn’t have before. He knows what he needs to do. He is going to get better,” the source said. “He will treat this every way he can: medically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually.”
The source added: “This is a physical and mental problem that also has a spiritual dimension.”
Hilton’s three children – Mario, 13, Mia, 11, and Mayte, eight – were reportedly at home when the incident began. His sister Barbara took them outside, although it remains unclear how much they saw before being moved to safety.