Singer TJ Jackson defended his social media posts saying he was praying for gossip blogger Perez Hilton following Hilton's hospitalization after a self-harm incident. The 48-year-old performer, who is the son of Tito Jackson and nephew of the late Michael Jackson, faced backlash from fans on Wednesday and Thursday after expressing sympathy for Hilton on X, formerly Twitter.
Hilton, 48, was rushed to a hospital after police subdued him at his Miami home during a TikTok livestream in which he self-harmed with a knife while covered in blood. Critics argued that Hilton did not deserve grace due to his history of attacking celebrities, including the Jackson family.
In his initial post on X, Jackson explained why he chose not to watch the video of the incident. Jackson wrote that everybody was talking about the video, and while he had not seen it, he heard it was horrible.
Jackson acknowledged that Hilton had not been nice to many celebrities, including his own family. However, Jackson stated that he never wanted to see anyone broken and in such a dark place, adding that he was praying for Hilton's healing and health.
Replies to Jackson's post were evenly split between followers praising his forgiveness and users insisting Hilton did not deserve sympathy. Responding to a user who hoped never to see the video and wished Hilton safety, Jackson said he agreed 100 percent.
Jackson added that he hoped Hilton would one day find his way and inspire others who slander people to choose a different route and lean into love. He called that approach the way to really live life to the fullest.
Fan Backlash and Jackson's Response
As pushback over his forgiving stance continued into Thursday, Jackson returned to X to address the negative reactions. He wrote that receiving so many comments disagreeing with his posts was sad to him.
Jackson explained that his family had taught him values that prevented him from taking pleasure in the misfortunes of others. He declared that even though Hilton was awful to many people, he was not raised to want worse for anyone.
Jackson stated that there is no beauty in revenge or joy in karma, adding that those who disagree are living by the wrong set of rules. He noted that a healthy ego does not need to feel justified.
Jackson also urged the public to give Hilton space as he recovers. He wrote that Hilton deserves privacy and that he will pray for his healing, as well as strength for his children and family during this painful time.
After a user applauded his stance, Jackson quoted the post and shared a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. that inspired him. Jackson quoted King as saying he decided to stick with love because hate is too great a burden to bear, adding that as he gets older, it is clear to him that love is the only way.
Past Feud with the Jackson Family
Hilton famously clashed with the Jackson family in 2009 prior to Michael Jackson's death. When reports surfaced that Michael Jackson had suffered cardiac arrest while rehearsing for his This Is It residency in London, Hilton falsely claimed the news was a publicity stunt.
In a blog post alleging a hoax, Hilton told ticket holders to get their money back. Hilton also claimed that Jackson pulled a similar stunt in 1995 when he collapsed during rehearsal for an HBO special.
After Michael Jackson's death was confirmed, Hilton deleted the false post and replaced it with a link to news reports of the singer's passing.
Police Response and Family Statement
The self-harm incident occurred on Tuesday when emergency services responded to Hilton's ranch-style home in Miami. Four squad cars pulled up to the property with sirens blaring just after 7 p.m. following multiple emergency calls from concerned fans watching the TikTok broadcast.
Doorbell camera surveillance video from a neighbor captured deputies from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office attempting to coax Hilton, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., out of the house. Officers called out to him by his real name to step outside while video clips showed him covered in blood while holding a knife.
TikTok subsequently removed the livestream and banned Hilton's account. However, the platform faced criticism from users over the length of time the broadcast remained active.
On Wednesday, a statement released on Hilton's website revealed that his three children, his sister Barbara Lavandeira, 42, and his niece were inside the house just minutes before the livestream started. His children include his eldest son Mario, born in 2013, and two daughters, Mia, born in 2015, and Mayte, born in 2017, all born via surrogacy.
The statement explained that the family immediately fled the property to prevent the children from witnessing further trauma once it became clear Hilton was experiencing a severe mental health crisis and harming himself. The family expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love and prayers, noting that the past several days had been nearly unbearable.
The family stated that their highest priority is helping the children heal and safely return home. They asked media, paparazzi, content creators, and the public to respect their privacy and leave the area surrounding the family home, adding that further updates on Hilton's condition will be shared on PerezHilton.com.
Hilton was surrounded by loved ones at the hospital on Wednesday, including his sister Barbara. Representatives for Hilton and Jackson did not immediately respond to requests for comment from The Daily Mail.
Hilton launched his celebrity gossip blog in 2004 under the original name PageSixSixSix.com before renaming it PerezHilton.com.
