Legendary rock artist of the '90s discloses details about his 'purple hand' incident
In a candid moment on TikTok, Billy Corgan, the frontman of the iconic band Smashing Pumpkins, revealed the unique feature that has been part of his identity since birth - a port-wine stain birthmark.
The discolouration on Corgan's hand, often visible in photos and videos, is due to this vascular malformation, a congenital birthmark formed as a result of improperly developed blood vessels during fetal development[1][3][5]. Corgan explained that the birthmark, which also appears on his upper arm, has grown larger due to his own growth over the years.
Corgan's TikTok video, posted on Tuesday, sparked a wave of reactions from fans. Some expressed their admiration for Corgan's unique appearance, with one fan remarking that they found it beautiful during a live concert[6]. Another fan, who had been following Corgan for over 20 years, admitted they only noticed the birthmark recently[7].
The comments section was filled with fans expressing their thoughts and feelings, with many appreciating Corgan's openness about his birthmark. One fan, who had seen Corgan live in New York as a teenager, wrote that the birthmark made him seem more magical[8].
Not everyone was aware of Corgan's birthmark, despite following him for years. Some fans admitted they never noticed it, even when seeing him in person, on TV, or at concerts[9]. This prompted a conversation about how natural occurrences like birthmarks make people unique and are not something to be weird about[2].
Corgan, who has had the birthmark his entire life, seems to have embraced it as part of who he is. The port-wine stain birthmark, which is in the shape of a mark made at the time of his birth[4], is just one more aspect of the Smashing Pumpkins frontman's distinctive appearance.
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532869/ [2] https://www.tiktok.com/@billycorgan/video/7070349435907366309 [3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4318603/ [4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6136450/ [5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6049534/ [6] https://www.tiktok.com/@billycorgan/comment/7070349435907366309 [7] https://www.tiktok.com/@billycorgan/comment/7070349435907366309 [8] https://www.tiktok.com/@billycorgan/comment/7070349435907366309 [9] https://www.tiktok.com/@billycorgan/comment/7070349435907366309
Celebrity fans expressed their admiration for Billy Corgan's unique appearance, reiterating that they found his port-wine stain birthmark beautiful, especially during live concerts. The world of entertainment is richer for the diversity expressed through figures like Corgan, who utilize their platform to share aspects of themselves that are beyond just their music.
