TikTok blames ‘moderator error’ on slow response to Perez Hilton livestream

TikTok says a “moderator error” delayed the removal of a livestream that appeared to show blogger Perez Hilton harming himself, as reported earlier by Wired. Jamie Favazza, a spokesperson for TikTok US, tells The Verge that the platform notified law enforcement about the situation and banned Hilton’s account for violating its community guidelines.

Hilton, or Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., is known for the celebrity gossip blog he started in 2004, where he often posted photos of stars featuring his own often obscene or cruel drawings layered on top.

Though some users claimed Perez’s livestream aired for more than 30 minutes, Favazza disputes this, saying it lasted around 15 minutes. Favazza adds that TikTok’s automated content moderation team flagged the video “within minutes” and routed it to US moderation teams. TikTok also took down the subsequent livestreams started by Hilton within 90 seconds. Screenshots and clips from the livestream are still floating around on some platforms like X.

The livestream aired on Tuesday night, with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office responding to Hilton’s home after saying they received “multiple calls regarding an individual who was livestreaming acts of self-harm on social media,” according to CNN. The authorities transported Hilton to a local hospital.

The slow response to Hilton’s livestream has raised concerns about moderation on TikTok, which some creators have found to be unevenly applied. TikTok’s policies strictly prohibit content that “shows, promotes, or provides instructions for suicide or self-harm,” along with “extremely graphic, violent, or disturbing content.” On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that TikTok US is laying off 250 employees and shutting down its Nashville office, where part of its content moderation team is based.