“Whatever anyone may think of ‘Perez Hilton,’ his past, or things he has said over the years, there’s a real human being behind the name,” the family stated. “Mario is a father of three, a son, a brother, and a friend who reached a point where he was struggling so deeply that he thought the people he loved would somehow be better off without him.”

And while Hilton’s family did not defend his past inappropriate online behavior, they implored the public to have compassion during this difficult time for him.

“No one has to forget his past or accept his apologies but we hope we can all agree that celebrating someone’s suicide attempt crosses a line,” the statement added. “Three children came frighteningly close to losing their father forever. There is nothing funny or entertaining about that.”

Noting that Hilton is focusing on “fully getting healthy,” his family championed September as Suicide Prevention Month.

“We hope this can also serve as a reminder that mental health struggles can affect anyone,” they added. “Even when others may not see what someone is going through.”