Jared Padalecki has apologized after facing criticism for a social-media message he posted in support of Perez Hilton following the entertainment blogger’s recent hospitalization.
The Supernatural and Gilmore Girls actor initially shared a message directed at Hilton on Sunday, expressing concern and encouraging him to accept support during a difficult period.
Padalecki later deleted the post after learning more about Hilton’s past and said he had not been aware of the extent of the controversy surrounding the celebrity blogger.
Jared Padalecki says he was unaware of Perez Hilton’s past
In his original message, Padalecki addressed Hilton directly and offered words of encouragement.
“This ‘being human’ is a strange thing. Exhilarating. Exhausting. Fast. Slow. Wonderful… and… at times… awful,” Padalecki wrote, encouraging Hilton to be kind to himself and surround himself with support.
The post quickly attracted criticism from social-media users who pointed to Hilton’s history of controversial coverage of celebrities.
Padalecki subsequently removed the message and acknowledged that he had learned information about Hilton that he previously did not know.
“It’s been brought to my attention,” he wrote. “I’m sorry.”
The actor later expanded on his explanation, saying he had heard of Hilton but had never closely followed his work or visited his websites.
Actor explains why he offered support
Padalecki said his initial response came from a general belief in extending compassion and forgiveness to people, rather than from familiarity with Hilton’s past conduct.
He explained that he had understood Hilton primarily as a sensationalist tabloid-style journalist and had not researched his history.
The actor also acknowledged that Hilton had previously been unkind toward him, but said he generally prefers forgiveness to holding a grudge.
Padalecki then made clear that his supportive message should not be interpreted as approval of conduct he had subsequently learned about.
“I DO NOT stand for, or support, ANY of the actions I just now found out that he has committed. Full stop,” he wrote.
He also apologized to anyone who felt hurt by his original message.
Perez Hilton previously discussed making amends
The controversy surrounding Padalecki’s post comes as Hilton’s own past treatment of celebrities has returned to public discussion.
In a recent appearance on Hang Out With Sean Hannity, Hilton said he had privately made amends with some celebrities he had previously written about during his career as a gossip blogger.
Among the names he discussed were Britney Spears, Neil Patrick Harris and Khloé Kardashian.
Hilton’s career became closely associated with provocative celebrity coverage, particularly during the height of the entertainment-blog era. His treatment of public figures has been the subject of criticism for years.
Padalecki’s comments indicate that he was unaware of much of that history when he first posted his message.
Perez Hilton remains hospitalized
Hilton, whose birth name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., was hospitalized after police responded to a reported emergency at his Miami home on August 4.
According to a statement from his family, Hilton was in serious but stable condition over the weekend.
His family said he had experienced significant blood loss and suffered additional injuries requiring surgery. They also said that his recovery would be a lengthy process.
Communication with Hilton has reportedly been limited while he receives treatment.
His three children are being cared for by members of his immediate family, according to the family’s statement.
Because the circumstances involve a reported self-harm emergency, details should be treated sensitively and reported only when confirmed by reliable sources or Hilton’s representatives and family.
Padalecki closes the controversy with a further apology
Padalecki’s follow-up statement attempted to draw a clear line between offering compassion to someone experiencing a crisis and endorsing that person’s previous actions.
The actor said his intention had been to encourage support and kindness during a difficult moment, not to dismiss the experiences of people who had been affected by Hilton’s conduct.
His apology followed the criticism and his realization that his original post had been made without knowledge of information that later came to his attention.
The episode has since sparked a wider conversation online about the difference between showing compassion during a personal crisis and excusing someone’s past behavior.
For Padalecki, the controversy appears to have been resolved through an explanation and public apology, while Hilton remains focused on medical treatment and recovery.
