Photo: Getty Images North America
Billy Corgan opened up about and showed off port-wine birthmarks on his left arm and hand in a vulnerable Instagram post about body positivity. The Smashing Pumpkins frontman shared a photo of his shocking birthmarks on Instagram and also gave a shout out to model Carla Bertotti, who has a significant birthmark on her face, in a heartfelt message.
"I’m a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us ‘us.’" Corgan began his message. "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,’" he continued. 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?" Corgan pointed out. "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"
Smashing Pumpkins recently released an album called Aghori Mhori Mei and are currently on tour in North America, playing both headlining shows and support on Green Day's Saviors tour. See Corgan's full post below.