Balmain's Olivier Rousteing reveals on Instagram he suffered shocking burns

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Oct 11, 2021

Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing took to Instagram this weekend to reveal in a post that he had suffered shocking burns from an explosion in a fireplace in his Paris apartment.

“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. 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,” wrote Rousteing.

In the accompanying photo on the Instagram post, Rousteing is seen with a burnt face, the top of his head, torso and arms all wrapped in surgical gauze.

Over half a million followers have already liked the post, while friends and famous colleagues have penned messages of support.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” said Donatella Versace with emojis of thanks and love; while Kim Kardashian wrote: “I love you.”

The 36-year-old designer explained he had hidden the injuries under masks and turtlenecks following the freak accident in his home.

“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… 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 foto-shoots. 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 every day of my life,” he continued.

The post appeared almost two weeks after he staged his 10th anniversary show for Balmain before an ecstatic crowed on 6,000 fans inside the giant Seine Musical concert hall, a crowning moment in his career.

“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. 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,” insisted Rousteing.

A subsequent post featured a series of videos from his anniversary show, including several bandage looks - three dresses in beige, red and white and even a men’s T-shirt – in a clear visual reference to his injuries and recovery.
“I remember the long conversations I had with my doctor @drserror that I can’t thank enough, and he told me: you will be fine, it’s gonna be fine. I remember when they took out all my bandages it felt FREEDOM,” concluded the designer.