Katie Price voices concern for pal Perez Hilton as he recovers in hospital after distressing TikTok stream

“I am really concerned for Perez and his mental health. It’s so sad to see him like this,” the former glamour model admitted.

Ms Price said she had been left stunned by events, adding: “I’m shocked by what has happened. I’ve always liked Perez.”

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She told The Sun that the pair had been in regular contact, including discussions about surrogacy, after Mr Perez welcomed three children who were all born through surrogate mothers.

“I’ve spoken to him so much over the years, including about surrogacy. I will reach out to him and his family,” she said.

“I’m a celebrity like him, controversial. He’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but then again neither am I.”

Their friendship dates back to 2008, when Ms Price relocated to Los Angeles with her then-husband Peter Andre, and the two struck up an improbable connection.

Seven years later, they shared the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2015, further cementing their relationship.

The friendship was all the more surprising given Mr Hilton’s earlier attacks on Price through his notorious gossip website, where he had branded her face “busted and orange” and dismissed her personality as “vapid”.

However, by 2018, the American blogger had become one of Ms Price’s most vocal defenders, rallying to her side publicly when she faced a torrent of online abuse following her bankruptcy.

“She needs and deserves our compassion now, not any scorn,” he wrote at the time. “We don’t care what anyone says about her. We know the real Katie. She is kind. She is thoughtful. She is sweet. She is hardworking. She is smart!”

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In a statement released on Wednesday, Mr Hilton’s family confirmed that the 48-year-old blogger – born Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr – is continuing to receive treatment but has regained the ability to speak with those around him.

“We have also been able to confirm that Perez is able to communicate, which has given our family hope,” the family said.

They described the ordeal as “incredibly difficult and emotional”, noting that it had been compounded by a lack of information being shared with them.

“While we continue to wait for further updates, we remain hopeful,” the statement added.

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His family and team appealed for “continued prayers, understanding, and grace” as the recovery process continues, saying they would provide further updates when confirmed details become available.

“Your compassionate humanity during this heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express,” they said.

Emergency services descended on Mr Hilton’s residence after members of the public alerted authorities to a man “livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media”, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.

Officers confirmed that Mr Hilton was alone inside the property at the time, and his TikTok account was suspended shortly afterwards.

After establishing contact with family members who had arrived at the scene, deputies opted to “tactically disengage while continuing to monitor the situation”, the sheriff’s office said.

Their statement added: “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.”

Without an immediate threat to others, officers said, crisis intervention methods help “reduce the likelihood of a suicide-by-cop encounter” and lower the risk of harm to everyone involved.

Mr Hilton was subsequently transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.