Billy Corgan is finally embracing the port-wine birthmarks he “endeavoured to hide” for many years.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman uploaded a photo of the dark red colouration on his left arm and hand.
In the accompanying caption, Billy explained that he was inspired to share the picture after seeing model Carlotta Bertotti celebrate the blue birthmark she has on her face.
“I’m a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us ‘us’,” he began. “So as you see, here is a beautiful young woman (@carlotta_bertotti ) with a birthmark who has embraced her ‘difference’ with grace.”
Billy went on to reflect on how he always tried to conceal his birthmarks after being teased about them as a child.
“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 57-year-old continued. “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.”
Elsewhere in the post, Billy admitted he finds it strange when people ask him “random questions” about the birthmarks, such as “Is it contagious?” and “Are you sick?”
And to conclude, the musician urged his fans to embrace their individuality.
“Whoever you are, I hope you find peace with who you are because: I would like to know that person and no one else,” he added.
