A Birmingham man has bravely spoken out about the cruel online trolling he endures, with strangers cruelly asking if his prosthetic eye is a Halloween mask.
A Childhood Diagnosis and Life-Changing Surgery
Amit Ghose, now 36, underwent surgery to have his eye removed when he was just 11 years old. This was due to a rare genetic condition called neurofibromatosis, which causes tumours to grow on nerve tissue.
For many years after the procedure, Amit felt compelled to hide his face from the world, struggling with his self-image and the reactions of others.
The Turning Point: Love and Self-Acceptance
Amit's life transformed when he met his wife, Piyali. He credits her unwavering support with helping him rebuild his shattered confidence.
"Everything changed for me when I fell in love with my wife," Amit told NeedToKnow. "I used to hide my face, and one day she said, ‘Amit, I won't be marrying one side of your face, I will marry all of it, so learn to love yourself.’"
This powerful statement became a catalyst for change. "Now I accept who I am, believe in myself and say to the world ‘this is me, take it or leave it,’" he explained. "When we look in the mirror and give ourselves love, everything falls into place."
Confronting Daily Stares and Online Abuse
Despite his newfound confidence, Amit emphasised that odd glances, pointing, and trolling remain an everyday reality. He revealed that school children often approach him to ask if his artificial eye is a Halloween disguise.
The online abuse is equally harsh. "Online, [I have] people saying I am fake and use a filter to lure views and likes," Amit shared. In a particularly cruel comment on one of his videos, a user wrote: "Me waiting for him to take the rest of his mask off."
However, Amit has also found a massive supportive community. He shares parts of his life online, and one video demonstrating his morning routine of putting in his prosthetic eye was viewed a staggering 27 million times, receiving 77,000 likes and over a thousand comments.
The response was overwhelmingly positive, with fans offering messages of solidarity:
- "Ignore the comments, perfection and beauty is not only in physical, it's about values you have."
- "We love you, you are a powerful man."
- "I have a hunch that you were made fun of as a kid but now you are a wonderful person, never forget that."
Amit Ghose's story is a powerful testament to resilience in the face of disability-related prejudice and a reminder of the profound impact of kindness and self-love.
