Olivier Rousteing has revealed that he suffered severe face and body burns after a fireplace exploded in his Paris home last year.
Sharing an image of himself wrapped in bandages and with painful burns visible on his face, the 36-year-old creative director of French fashion house Balmain explained that his Sunday Instagram post marked the year anniversary of the terrifying incident.
The likes of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Donatella Versace were quick to praise Olivier’s bravery, with Kim, 40, writing beneath his post: ‘I love you.’
Painful: Olivier Rousteing, 36, has revealed that he suffered severe face and body burns after a fireplace exploded in his Paris home last year
Explaining that he ‘finally feels ready to share this’, Olivier told his 7.1 million Instagram followers that he had hidden his injuries beneath ‘face masks and turtlenecks’ for the past twelve months.
Attempting to elaborate on why he decided to keep the accident a secret, Olivier said: ‘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.’
He also thanked the staff at Paris’ Hôpital Saint Louis, penning: ‘The talented staff at that famous hospital, which was dealing with an incredible number of COVID cases at that same time, took amazing care of me. I cannot thank them enough.’
Kim and Kylie’s mother Kris Jenner also commented on the designer’s post, telling him: ‘You have been so strong and so positive through it all and I am beyond proud of you!
Supportive: The likes of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner and Donatella Versace were quick to praise Olivier’s bravery, with Kim, 40, writing beneath his post: ‘I love you’
‘I know how hard this is to share, but just know it will help so many people in different ways.’
Olivier wrote in full: ‘A YEAR AGO. I finally feel ready to share this. 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. I woke up the next morning in Paris’ Hôpital Saint Louis. The talented staff at that famous hospital, which was dealing with an incredible number of COVID cases at that same time, took amazing care of me.
Olivier wrote: ‘A YEAR AGO. I finally feel ready to share this. I’ve been hiding this for too long and it’s time for you to know’
‘I cannot thank them enough. 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.
‘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.’ [sic]
He went on: ‘As I recovered, I just worked days and night to forget and creating all my collections , trying to keep the world dreaming with my collections and at the same time hiding the scars with face masks, turtlenecks, long sleeves and even multiple rings on all my fingers through many interviews or fotoshoots.
Close friends: Kim and Olivier are close friends and often collaborate on luxury projects together
‘And I truly realized that the power of social media is to reveal only what you want to show! Kind of allowing us to create our own special narrative that avoids what we do not wish to see or show: this is our new world.
‘Now, a year later—healed, happy and healthy. I realize how truly blessed I am and I thank GOD everyday of my life..
‘My last show was about the celebration of healing over pain and I thank all the models the productions my team the models my Balmain family ,my friends that came and supported not only my 10 years of Balmain but my rebirth.’ [sic]
Keeping it in the family: Olivier is friends with the Kardashian clan, with Kris and Kylie Jenner also sending the designer well wishes
Olivier concluded: ‘Today, I feel so free, so good and so lucky. I’m beginning a new chapter with a smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude.
‘To the doctors and nurses at Saint Louis, and to all those who helped me during this long recovery and kept my secret : a profound thank-you. I love you.
‘GOD BLESS YOU ALL and again never never give up ! There is always the sun after the storm.’ [sic]
Olivier concluded: ‘Today, I feel so free, so good and so lucky. I’m beginning a new chapter with a smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude’ (pictured at his fashion show this month)