A jobless man who caused outrage after he bragged about spending his benefits money on cosmetic surgery to look like David Beckham says he’s finally accepted himself.
In September last year, Jack ‘Beckham’ Johnson, from Bulwell, Nottingham, sparked fury after he appeared on This Morning to defend using tax-payer’s money on a string of plastic surgery operations.
Now, the 21-year-old, who recently had gastric band surgery on the NHS, says that he’s finally accepted his looks – after admitting to becoming so obsessed with the ex footballer that he tried to take his own life.
Change of heart: Jack Johnson, 21, from Bulwell, Nottingham, caused outrage when he told viewers of ITV’s This Morning that he’d spent £20,000 of his benefits money on plastic surgery
Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, Jack said he now wants young people to know that they: ‘don’t have to look like celebrities, and should just be themselves’.
Jack is on £15,000-a-year benefits and claims to have taken out £20,000 worth of loans to fund his dramatic surgery, which he says he plans to pay back with his dole money.
Alongside his gastric band, he’s also had lip and cheek fillers, tan injections and an eyebrow lift.
The 21-year-old, who calls himself Jack ‘Beckham’ Johnson, says his obsession left him suicidal at its worst but says he’s now so over his fixation that he wants to get his band removed completely.
The unemployed man had a gastric band fitted in September which was paid for by the NHS – something he’s now keen to reverse
He told FEMAIL: ‘I have been having personal help from psychiatrists and I’m in the best place ever now.
‘I tried to take my own life because trying to look like Beckham is like a full-time job and is not easy as you think.
‘I didn’t want to live because I was not getting to my goal and trying to look like Beckham was killing me slowly.’
Jack has been diagnosed with body dysmorphia and was surprised to learn that this was the root of his obsession with Beckham.
He says he wants young people to not make the mistakes he has, and that they shouldn’t think they have to look like anyone but themselves.
He was obsessed with looking like David Beckham, but now says his obsession nearly killed him – because trying to look like the ex footballer is a full-time job
Jack previously bragged that taxpayers will ‘always fund my lifestyle on Twitter
Jack said: ‘I want other young people to know you don’t have to look like a hot celeb. You have to love yourself and be happy with the body that you’ve got.
‘I don’t want young people out there to follow what I have done and regret it.’
Jack claims to have had his facial fillers taken out and is hoping to get his gastric band removed, despite only having it in September.
He previously angered followers on social media after he said that he would stay on benefits for as long as possible because he doesn’t feel like ‘he should have’ to work.
New way of thinking: Jack wants young people to know that they don’t have to look like their favourite celebrities
Jack said: ‘I will stay on benefits as long as possible. I am part of the Beckham brand, you wouldn’t see David working in McDonald’s would you so why should I work?
‘Some people on benefits buy alcohol or cigarettes, I buy surgery or cosmetic work.’
He’d also previously prompted fury by tweeting a picture of wads of cash to taunt his critics, saying: ‘taxpayers will always fund my lifestyle’.