The ‘Supernatural’ star faced major backlash for his well-wishes to the hospitalized blogger and quickly walked back his support.
Jared Padalecki found himself in the middle of an online firestorm over the weekend. The actor, known for his roles in Supernatural and Gilmore Girls, posted a message of support for celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton. Hilton had been hospitalized after a serious mental health crisis. But Padalecki’s kind words were not received well by his fans. Many pointed out Hilton’s long history of bullying celebrities. Padalecki quickly deleted his post and issued an apology, saying he had no idea about Hilton’s controversial past.
The Original Post That Started It All
On Saturday, August 8, 2026, Padalecki took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a message for Hilton. The blogger had been hospitalized on August 4 after harming himself during a TikTok livestream. Hilton’s family later confirmed he had experienced significant blood loss and would need surgery.
Padalecki wrote: “Hey @PerezHilton. Just wanted to reach out and let you know that you’re in my thoughts. This ‘being human’ is a strange thing. Exhilarating. Exhausting. Fast. Slow. Wonderful… and… at times… awful. I hope you are trying as best as you can to be kind to yourself right now. Please surround yourself with the love and support that all humans deserve. This too shall pass. You got this.”
The actor, who has been open about his own mental health struggles and battles with suicidal ideation, was speaking from personal experience. But his fans were not impressed.
Fans Quickly Point Out Hilton’s Past
Within hours, Padalecki’s followers began alerting him to Hilton’s history. The gossip blogger, whose real name is Mario Armando Lavandeira Jr., has faced years of criticism for his cruel coverage of celebrities.
Hilton has been accused of vicious bullying, outing LGBTQIA celebrities, and openly speculating about their health and pregnancy issues. He had targeted numerous stars over the years, including Britney Spears, Khloe Kardashian, and Amanda Bynes. Many fans were shocked that Padalecki, who had himself been a target of Hilton’s gossip in the past, would offer support.
Padalecki’s Response: Deletion and Apology
Padalecki deleted his original post on Sunday, August 9. He then posted a brief apology: “I didn’t know. It’s been brought to my attention. I’m sorry ❤️.”
But that was not enough for some. Critics questioned how the actor could be unaware of who Hilton was. Padalecki followed up with a longer explanation hours later.
“To give more detail re: my post wishing someone well… I had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA about his past,” he wrote.
He continued: “I had heard of him. Obviously. I had heard that he hadn’t exactly ‘been kind’ to me in the past. So, my thought is always to give grace and forgiveness to those who may have tried to ‘harm’ you… in my experience, it usually works out better than holding a grudge or wishing punishment on someone else.”
Padalecki then made it clear that he did not support Hilton’s actions: “That having been said, I TRULY didn’t know ANYTHING about the extent to what he has done. That’s my bad. On my life, I have never in my life, not once, looked him up or gone to one of his sites. I simply thought he was a ‘tabloid’ type of sensationalist journalist. I DO NOT stand for, or support, ANY of the actions I just now found out that he has committed. Full stop. I’m sorry if my words caused any harm. And, I hope you ALL are well out there, and taking care of yourselves.”
Fans Are Divided
The reaction to Padalecki’s apology has been mixed. Some fans criticized him for walking back his original message.
One user on Threads wrote: “Hilton is abhorrent, has always been, but Padalecki has no spine. The gall of the online mobs, honestly.”
Another fan posted: “Wishing a bad person well makes you a top-tier human. Going back on those well wishes because you are easily bullied into compliance is just sad. Never let anyone convince you that being kind is bad.”
A third commenter added: “He should’ve left the post. Walking it back seems like he was trying to save face & his well wishes were simply a virtue signal for the crisis of the day.”
Some also brought up Padalecki’s faith. “Jared is a Christian, as is Mario (Perez)… Jared had some struggles not too many years ago and I am disappointed he didn’t stick with his ‘grace and forgiveness’ approach,” one user commented.
However, not all feedback was negative. Some fans defended the actor’s initial impulse to show compassion.
“You shouldn’t apologise for being kind. I admire your kindness towards those who struggle themselves,” one fan responded.
Another wrote: “You had empathy for another human being. This used to be a good quality.”
A Mental Health Advocate’s Dilemma
Padalecki has been a vocal mental health advocate for years. He has spoken publicly about his own experiences with depression and suicidal thoughts. In 2015, he launched the Always Keep Fighting campaign to support people dealing with depression, addiction, and self-harm.
His decision to reach out to Hilton was likely rooted in this personal experience. But the backlash shows how complicated public expressions of empathy can be, especially when the recipient has a controversial past.
Hilton’s Own Apology
Interestingly, Hilton had recently apologized for his past behavior. In March 2026, he admitted that his gossip blogging had crossed lines.
“I realized what I was doing was wrong,” Hilton said in a July 14 recording that was released shortly before his hospitalization. “[I realized] that I could still be fun, but I don’t have to be so cheap, and I don’t have to be so cruel.”
Despite this, many fans felt that Hilton’s past actions could not be so easily forgiven or forgotten.
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Where Things Stand Now
As of August 10, 2026, Hilton remains hospitalized. His family has described his condition as “serious but stable.” He is recovering from injuries sustained during his livestream and remains under Florida’s Baker Act for emergency mental health evaluation.
Padalecki has not posted further about the controversy since his apology. His original well-wishes and subsequent apology posts remain on X for public view.
The situation serves as a reminder of how quickly intentions can be misunderstood online. Padalecki’s attempt at kindness was met with anger from fans who felt he should have known better. His quick apology and explanation show an actor trying to navigate a complicated public relations moment while staying true to his values of grace and forgiveness.
Also Read: Perez Hilton Hospitalized Under Baker Act After Disturbing Livestream, Needs Surgery
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