TikTok Cites 'Moderator Error' for Delay in Removing Perez Hilton Livestream

TikTok has acknowledged that a "moderator error" was responsible for the delayed removal of a livestream from blogger Perez Hilton, which reportedly showed acts of self-harm, according to a statement from the company.

Jamie Favazza, a spokesperson for TikTok US, confirmed that the platform alerted law enforcement regarding the incident and subsequently banned Hilton's account for violating its community guidelines. Hilton, whose legal name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., gained prominence for his celebrity gossip blog, launched in 2004, where he frequently superimposed his own often explicit or harsh drawings onto celebrity photographs.

While some users indicated that the livestream remained active for over 30 minutes, Favazza countered these claims, stating the broadcast lasted approximately 15 minutes. Favazza also noted that TikTok's automated content moderation system flagged the video within minutes and directed it to US moderation teams. Furthermore, TikTok promptly removed any subsequent livestreams initiated by Hilton within 90 seconds.

Despite the platform's actions, screenshots and video clips from the original livestream continue to circulate on various other platforms, including X.

The livestream aired on a Tuesday night, leading to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responding to Hilton's residence after receiving "multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media," as reported by CNN. Authorities then transported Hilton to a local hospital.

The delayed response to Hilton's livestream has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of content moderation on TikTok, with some creators expressing concerns about inconsistent application of the platform's policies. TikTok's guidelines explicitly forbid content that "shows, promotes, or provides instructions for suicide or self-harm," as well as "extremely graphic, violent, or disturbing content."

The incident also comes as TikTok US reportedly began laying off 250 employees on Wednesday and plans to close its Nashville office, which houses a portion of its content moderation team, according to a New York Times report.