Jared Padalecki, Perez Hilton controversy explained

Jared Padalecki claims he had no idea about the extent of Perez Hilton’s controversial career despite being targeted by the celebrity gossip blogger in the past.

Over the weekend, the Supernatural star drew massive backlash for extending well wishes to Hilston, who was hospitalised after engaging in apparent self-harm behaviour on livestream.

“Hey @PerezHilton… Just wanted to reach out and let you know that you’re in my thoughts,” Padalecki wrote on X on Saturday, August 8. “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.”

However, he took down his statement the following day after learning how awful he had been to celebrities like Britney Spears, Khloe Kardashian, and more.

The Gilmore Girls alum, who is a mental health advocate, insisted that he had “absolutely no idea.”

“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 many have tried to ‘harm’ you… in my experience, it usually works out better than holding a grudge or wishing punishment on someone else,” Padalecki noted. “That having been said, I TRULY didn’t know ANYTHING about the extent to what he has done…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 yourself.”

For his part, Hilton revealed that he reached out and apologised to multiple celebrities in the weeks leading up to his hospitalisation.

“I realised what I was doing was wrong,” Hilton admitted on the latest episode of Hang Out With Sean Hannity, which was recorded on July 14 and released on Thursday. “[I realised] that I could still be fun, but I don’t have to be so cheap, and I don’t have to be so cruel.”