Perez Hilton says he's "feeling numb" after being banned from TikTok, uploading a tearful video begging one of the social media app's biggest stars for help.
"I don't want to seem overly dramatic, but I feel like my world is crumbling," the gossip-columnist said in an emotional YouTube video about his removal from the platform.
"This feels like a death to me," he said.
Hilton insisted that he hadn't been responsible for any of the "multiple community guideline violations" cited by TikTok as the reason for his ban, which included him being reported for harassment, bullying and nudity.
"I don't post nudity on TikTok!" he said.
Hilton went on to claim he had been banned from the app for making videos and comments about some of its biggest stars, including content creator Charli D'Amelio.
"Charli is the most-followed person on TikTok, and I think the reason the I have been permanently banned without any warning is because I have been talking about a lot of creators on TikTok because those videos do well," he said.
"But I have not done anything that's harassing or bullying, and TikTok is claiming that I am, just by sharing news and sharing my opinion."
Hilton caused a stir when he called a video of D'Amelio dancing in a bikini "inappropriate for a 15-year-old", but following his ban, he has "begged and grovelled" to her and her famous family for help.
"Please, Charli D'Amelio, please message me back on Instagram. Please. Please help me. I know you don't owe me that, but I beg of you. I beg of you. I grovel," he said.
Hilton complained that he had nearly 500 TikTok videos saved in his drafts before his account was deleted, claiming he had planned to post them at a later date.
In an interview with Forbes, Hilton said he was hurt by the way TikTok had gone about the ban, and was appealing their decision.
"I'm more than just a personality, I'm a news outlet and I'm viewed that way worldwide. I don't think they would have banned The New York Times, CBS News or NBC without talking to them first," he told Forbes.
"2020 has been a very hard year for so many people, I'm blessed that my family is healthy and I haven't gotten sick, but I have been struggling a lot severely this year," Hilton added.
"TikTok has provided me an escape and so much joy."
A statement from a TikTok spokesperson given to the New York Times said that their communities guidelines applied to "everyone and everything shared on TikTok".
"We are deeply committed to maintaining a welcoming and supportive community environment... and we remove accounts that repeatedly violate our policies," the statement read.
