Balmain's Olivier Rousteing Shares Scars, Injuries from Home Explosion

Olivier Rousteing, creative director of France's Balmain fashion house, has revealed that he suffered serious injuries in a fireplace explosion at his home last year.

Rousteing, who is gay, shared the news in an Instagram post Saturday, with a picture of him heavily bandaged. He said he had been "hiding this for too long," appearing in public with long sleeves, turtlenecks, face masks, and jewelry to hide his scars.

"Exactly a year ago, the fireplace inside my house exploded," he wrote. "I woke up the next morning in Paris' Hopital Saint Louis. The talented staff at that famous hospital, which was dealing with an incredible number of [pandemic] cases at that same time, took amazing care of me. I cannot thank them enough."

The 36-year-old said he wasn't sure why he kept the accident and his injuries secret for so long. "Maybe this obsession with perfection that fashion is known for and my own insecurities" caused him to feel ashamed, he said.

He is now "healed, happy and healthy," he wrote, adding, "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." He also thanked the doctors and nurses at the hospital.

"I'm beginning a new chapter with a smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude," he noted, then concluded, "There is always the sun after the storm."

Balmain has flourished with Rousteing at the helm. It was once known primarily for women's clothing, and that remains importance, but Rousteing has made menswear a significant aspect of the business as well. The creative director has kept the brand in the public eye with his high profile on social media, and he has been outspoken on current events, expressing his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

He celebrated his decade at Balmain last month with a Paris Fashion Week show that the Associated Press called "a veritable fashion-music festival over two days." It included a runway show featuring Naomi Campbell and Carla Bruni, a recorded message from Beyonce, and a concert by Franz Ferdinand.

Several celebrities wished him well in comments on his Instagram post. They included Cardi B, Kim Kardashian, Kylie Jenner, and Jonathan Van Ness.