After a life-threatening illness, the gossip columnist once dubbed “the most hated man in Hollywood” says he’s returned to his Catholic faith. Sophie Sanders is pleased Perez Hilton’s content is being replaced with more wholesome fare, and is praying he continues to see the miraculous in his life
You probably know Perez Hilton (real name Mario Lavandeira) for his legally questionable coverage of celebs – think paparazzi photos, cruel nicknames, and outing gay stars. Or perhaps from his physical altercation with musician Will.i.am, his links to an upskirt photo of Miley Cyrus, or even his ban from TikTok for violating community guidelines.
As a notorious gossip columnist – arguably the original influencer of online gossip – he’s not been short on news headlines. In fact, he was even referred to as the most hated man in Hollywood. But now he’s hit the news for a completely different reason – metamorphosing from a controversial blogger into a gospel believer.
Yes, that’s right. Perez Hilton has returned to the Catholic faith he was raised in following a near death experience.
Divine intervention
A few weeks ago, Hilton was suffering from the flu. But things got progressively more serious when he developed an ulcer (likely because he was taking his meds without food) which led to him being rushed to hospital. This was followed by a perforation and sepsis. After a plethora of scans and tests, the doctors performed laparoscopic surgery, drained the fluid around his lungs and undertook another ‘major procedure’. It’s a medical drama that wouldn’t be out of place in Holby City.
He is now reading the Bible, excited to take his children to church, and sharing faith-focused reflections with his one million followers
But there’s more. After three weeks in hospital Hilton was discharged, only to be readmitted with deep vein thrombosis (which he has called “divine intervention”). While in hospital, Hilton had a near death experience and saw a vision which has radically reorientated his worldview.
In his own words, and through tears, he said: ”It was not a feeling. God presented himself to me. I grew up Catholic…but I was never a believer until now. God presented himself to me and then did something. Something that I could only call miraculous…and I was very lucid. It was real and this has been life-changing. I know that God is real…I know that God saved me…and I know that God loves me.”
It’s a powerful testament to the powerful, transforming grace of God – and one that should excite us as fellow believers. Paul writes that, “beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into the same image from one degree to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). In other words, as we look to the Lord and spend time in his presence we become more like Him.
Everyday miracles
And we see the first fruits of this through Hilton’s Instagram posts and comments. He is now reading through the Bible from start to finish, finding the words of scripture inspirational, excited to take his three children to church, and shifting towards sharing faith-focused reflections with his one million Instagram followers.
Hilton hasn’t shared more details of this miraculous encounter. And if I’m honest, while the watching world – myself included – might be fascinated to delve into the intensely intimate experience that Hilton recently had with the divine, the details don’t really matter. Because, as CS Lewis said: “miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see.”
In the ordinary and the extraordinary, our God is at work. We see it in the splendour of sunrises and shining constellations. We see it in the small mercies of our daily lives. And we see it in the nature-defying miracles that lead people to faith, set captives free, and bring about profound healing and restoration.
Put simply, miracles like the one experienced by Perez Hilton are imprints of a greater truth and point to the all-powerful, all-loving God who is above it all.
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