Yahoo News Katie Piper defends censored acid attack post on Instagram
Katie Piper has defended her decision to share a never-before-seen photograph of her horrific acid attack injuries on World Mental Health Day last month.
In an interview with the Mirror Online, the former Strictly Come Dancing contestant explained that she wasn’t trying to shock – despite Instagram censoring the ‘sensitive’ image – but rather show that “all journeys start off feeling impossible.”
"Of course you have to think about what you post on social media on any day and in any situation,” Piper added.
“But for me, I don't want to just post happy photos and put out: 'I'm strong and you can be strong too' because sometimes that's patronising and not helpful.
Read more: Katie Piper opens up about recent eye surgery as she posts recovery pic on Instagram
"Positive people don't wake up feeling happy every day. I just wanted to give hope to people that are in those very early stages that you can make progression."
Back in March 2008, Piper was left with severe burns on her face and blind in one eye after her abusive ex-boyfriend Daniel Lynch hired a man to brutally assault her outside an internet cafe in Golders Green.
Stefan Sylvestre, the man who carried out the attack, received a life sentence and was told he would serve a minimum of six years. He was released in October 2018. Lynch, who received two life sentences, is still in prison.
Piper has since found love with carpenter Richard Sutton. The pair welcomed their first child, a daughter named Belle, in March 2014 and got engaged later that year.
They married in November 2015 and in December 2017, Piper gave birth to their second daughter, Penelope.
Discussing the Mirror’s most recent Pride of Britain Awards, the 36-year-old – who won a special recognition award at the 2012 ceremony – said that “there were some really hard-hitting stories.”
She continued: “All the winners are amazing. For me, the night is about supporting like-minded people and giving them a platform.
“I've seen with my own story that when you get a platform you can do great things with it on a wide scale as well as on a personal scale.”
