Fashion designer Olivier Rousteing was severely injured when his fireplace exploded a year ago, he said on Instagram.- The
Balmain creative director hid his body for a year because he felt "ashamed."
Celebrated
Rousteing, the creative director of French fashion house Balmain, shared a picture on Instagram of himself showing his body, arms, neck, and head bandaged up after the incident.
"I finally feel ready to share this, Rousteing wrote. "I've been hiding this for too long and it's time for you to know. Exactly a year ago, the fireplace inside my house exploded."
He said he woke up the next morning in Paris' Hôpital Saint Louis and thanked staff for their care, particularly while dealing with COVID-19 patients.
"I did everything to hide this story from as many people as possible and trying to keep the secret with my teams and friends for too long," Rousteing said.
In a bid to hide his
A year on, the designer - who was hired in the top role at Balmain aged just 25 in 2011 - says he is "healed, happy and healthy."
"To be honest, I am not really sure why I was so ashamed, maybe this obsession with perfection that fashion is known for and my own insecurities," Rousteing said.
The experience helped him realize how easy it is to show what you want to on social media.
Rousteing says he is now going through a "rebirth" and "beginning a new chapter with a smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude."
In a second post, Rousteing said that having his bandages removed had felt like "freedom," which inspired his latest Balmain collection.
The designer's revelation attracted a wave of support from celebrities and the fashion industry, including "Queer Eye"'s Jonathan Van Ness, designer Donatella Versace, and reality TV star Kim Kardashian-West.
"There is always the sun after the storm," Rousteing said.