Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan finally embraces his port wine birthmark
Billy Corgan has a confession to make.
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman today revealed something he has kept hidden for most of his life – a port wine birthmark on his arm.
In a post to social media, the Bullet with Butterfly Wings singer went public with his birthmark in solidarity with others embracing body positivity movements.
“I’m a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us ‘us’,” the 57-year-old wrote.
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“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.”
The relentless attention given to his birthmark was felt deeply by the musician.
“So much so that people who have known me for a decade are shocked when they finally ‘see it’,” he wrote.
“And even now strangers will stop me on the street not because they recognise me but because they think something is wrong with me that requires medical attention.”
He said the unwanted attention comes with unsolicited questions.
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“Is that a burn? Are you sick? Is it contagious? Does it hurt?” he said.
“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.”
Scores of Corgan’s 359,000 fans praised the singer for his self-less act.
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“I love the way you embrace folks that others fear. Because you’ve definitely been part of that tribe.. but that doesn’t guarantee compassion on a part of a person. Often it makes them the opposite.. so with you,” one person wrote.
“Absolute legend,” a second person wrote.
“You are the best,” a third person added.
A port wine birthmark presents from birth and are common among newborns.
They appear as either red or pink and are caused by tiny blood capillaries in the skin, according to The Skin Hospital.
The birthmark is quite common and occurs in an estimated three out of 1000 babies.
Corgan formed the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins in 1998, releasing their debut album, Gish, in 1991.
The group has released 13 studio albums and sold 30 million copies worldwide.
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