Billy Corgan has opened up to fans about his port-wine birthmarks, showing them off in a statement of body positivity on social media.
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman took to Instagram, where he posted a picture of his birthmarks on his left hand and arm, along with a heartfelt message regarding body positivity. He also shared an image of model Carla Bertotti, who, in her own words, is “defying beauty standards” with a significant birthmark on her face.
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Corgan admitted that he had hid his birthmarks in the past, but that he was inspired by Bertotti to embrace his ‘difference.” His full message reads as follows:
“I’m a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us ‘us.’ So as you see, here is a beautiful young woman (@carlotta_bertotti ) with a birthmark who has embraced her ‘difference’ with grace. My point being that my whole life I’ve endeavoured to hide my ‘port wine’ birthmarks because as you can imagine I was teased unmercifully about them as a child. So much so that people who have known me for a decade are shocked when they finally ‘see it’. And even now strangers will stop me on the street not because they recognize me but because they think something is wrong with me that requires medical attention.
Plus the random questions:
Is that a burn?
Are you sick?
Is it contagious?
Does it hurt?
So positive message for the day: Whoever you are, I hope you find peace with who you are because: I would like to know that person and no one else”
Corgan’s message was met with massive support, with everyone from new Pumpkins guitarist Kiki Wong to black metal songstress Myrkur leaving words of positivity or a heart emoji in the comments.
Meanwhile, Corgan and The Smashing Pumpkins recently released a new album, Aghori Mhori Mei, and are currently on the road supporting Green Day’s “Saviors Tour,” which continues with a Detroit gig on Wednesday (September 4th). Get tickets to the remaining dates here.
You can see Corgan’s social media post below.