TikTok Blames Moderator Error for Delayed Removal of Perez Hilton's Livestream

On Tuesday night, gossip blogger Perez Hilton — whose real name is Mario Lavandeira Jr. — was hospitalized after appearing naked on a TikTok livestream, covered in a red liquid resembling blood and holding what looked like a knife. TikTok says the stream lasted about 15 minutes. Concerned viewers contacted police.

TikTok spokesperson Jamie Favazza told WIRED in an email that the platform’s automated moderation tools flagged the livestream minutes after it started. However, a “moderator error” delayed both the removal of the stream and the subsequent account ban. Favazza also said TikTok contacted law enforcement shortly after the stream was flagged. The company did not respond to follow-up questions about the nature of the error or how long it delayed the takedown.

During the stream, the Miami-Dade County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls about someone livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media, according to Detective Samantha Choon. A crisis response unit and mental health professionals were dispatched to Lavandeira’s home. A public information officer separately confirmed to WIRED that Lavandeira was the person in question.

TikTok’s content guidelines prohibit material that “shows, promotes, or provides instructions for suicide or self-harm,” as well as “graphic, violent, or disturbing content.” The platform has said it uses a combination of automated systems and human moderation to screen content. In January, the company entered a new ownership structure: a joint venture took over content moderation and data security responsibilities in the US.

After news of Lavandeira’s hospitalization spread, many social media users questioned why the livestream remained visible long enough for thousands to watch. Some speculated the stream had been up for 30 minutes or more before the account was banned. Favazza denied that, saying it was up for “half” that time, and that Lavandeira’s subsequent streams were cut within 90 seconds.

This is not the first time TikTok and livestreaming platforms have faced criticism over moderation of content involving suicide or self-harm. In 2020, The Intercept reported that a young Brazilian man livestreamed his own suicide on the platform. Later that year, TikTok struggled to remove graphic clips of Ronnie McNutt, who took his own life on Facebook Live.

Dante Rusciolelli, Lavandeira’s manager and CEO of Golden Artists Entertainment, told WIRED that Lavandeira’s team is “not in a position to comment on TikTok’s internal policies, moderation decisions, or its communications with law enforcement.” He added: “Our focus remains entirely on Perez’s health and well-being. We appreciate the concern surrounding this situation and respectfully ask that his privacy be honored while he receives the care and support he needs.”