After Years Of Stories, Seal Comes Clean About The Origins Of His Facial Scarring

Seal might be a four-time Grammy Award-winning artist with over 20 million record sales under his belt, but fans tend to speak of something other than his success story as an artist. Instead, they focus on the British singer's facial scars, speculating how he wound up with so many.

After years of rumors and stories of accidents and tribal scarring, it's time to learn the truth about Seal's scars.

Seal Started In London And Made His Way To Asia

Seal Started In London And Made His Way To Asia
Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images
Fryderyk Gabowicz/picture alliance via Getty Images

Growing up with a foster family in Westminster, London, Seal started his musical journey in the local club and bar scene in the 1980s. It didn't take long for him to be brought into a funk band, Push.

Getting out of London, Seal wound up traveling throughout Asia, starting in Japan with Push then moving on to Thailand, where he joined a blues band. After that stint, he found himself as a solo traveler in India.

ADVERTISEMENT

His Big Break Came When He Met Producer Adamski

ADVERTISEMENT
His Big Break Came When He Met Producer Adamski
Dave Benett/Getty Image
Dave Benett/Getty Image
ADVERTISEMENT

After traveling around, Seal eventually made his way back to London. And that, folks, is truly where the singer's story begins. While trying to figure out his next steps, Seal wound up meeting Adamski, a music producer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Adamski had Seal sing the lyrics to his song "Killer." And that move right there changed Seal's life forever. The song wound up as the number one hit in the UK, leading to the artist's first record deal.

ADVERTISEMENT

He Ran The Show At The 1992 BRIT Awards

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
He Ran The Show At The 1992 BRIT Awards
Dave Benett/Getty Images
Dave Benett/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After "Killer" reached number one, Seal was signed to ZTT Records. Obviously, Seal's scars weren't going to hold him back from going after his dreams because, in 1991, he released his first studio album, Seal.

ADVERTISEMENT

The album was met with fantastic critical reviews, leading Seal to run away with not one, not two, but three BRIT Awards at the 1992 award show. Winning Best British Album, Best British Male, and Best British Video, Seal became the first artist to win three awards in a single year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal II Was Released In 1994

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Seal II Was Released In 1994
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

While Seal was obviously talented, winning awards left and right for his debut album, people still talked more about his facial scars than his success story. Even so, he wasn't going to let the gossip mill stop him from going into the recording studio.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the wildly huge success of Seal, the singer didn't waste any time, releasing his second self-titled album in 1994, Seal II. If he thought he was successful before the 1994 album, he hadn't seen anything yet!

ADVERTISEMENT

In 1996, Seal Won Two Grammy Awards

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
In 1996, Seal Won Two Grammy Awards
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The 1994 album Seal II had the hit single that launched Seal into international stardom, "Kiss From a Rose." First met with mediocre reviews, the song became wildly popular when it was remixed and thrown into the Batman Forever soundtrack.

ADVERTISEMENT

Skyrocketing to success, Seal wound up winning two Grammy Awards in 1996. One was Record of the Year and the other for Song of the Year. And, yes, the song was "Kiss From a Rose."

ADVERTISEMENT

His Third Album Wasn't As Popular

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
His Third Album Wasn't As Popular
Steve Azzara/Corbis via Getty Images
Steve Azzara/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

With his initial successes, it seemed as though Seal was just going to shoot straight to the top and stay there for the duration of his career. Well, that's not exactly what ended up happening.

ADVERTISEMENT

After the success of Seal and Seal II, Seal hit a bump in the road when it came to his third studio album, Human Being. The album received a gold record certification, but it wasn't met with the same enthusiastic reviews as the two previous records.

ADVERTISEMENT

Togetherland Was Never Released

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Togetherland Was Never Released
Amanda Edwards/WireImage
Amanda Edwards/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT

Then came his fourth album, the 2001 record Togetherland. And to say things took a turn for the worst would be an understatement. The album was never released because Seal didn't think it met the standards of his other records.

ADVERTISEMENT

So, instead of releasing the entire album, he opted to release a single, "This Could Be Heaven." It was a sad time for fans and the artist. Two years later, he was back in the spotlight.

ADVERTISEMENT

2003 Saw The Release Of His Fourth Studio Album

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
2003 Saw The Release Of His Fourth Studio Album
Stephen J. Boitano/LightRocket via Getty Images
Stephen J. Boitano/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After the bust of Togetherland, it took Seal a few years to get his music back on track and in the spotlight. It happened in 2003, with the release of his fourth studio album, Seal IV.

ADVERTISEMENT

This fourth album didn't garner as much success as his original two, but it was still his highest-ranked record in the United States. He took that as an absolute win! But it was his last studio record for some time.

ADVERTISEMENT

His Next Venture: Live Albums And Covers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
His Next Venture: Live Albums And Covers
Stephen J. Boitano/LightRocket via Getty Images
Stephen J. Boitano/LightRocket via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After the release of his fourth album, Seal took a break from the studio. In the following years, he released a compilation of his greatest hits, a Live in Paris album, and a recording of one of his concerts titled One Night to Remember.

ADVERTISEMENT

It wasn't until 2007 and 2008 that Seal released his fifth and sixth studio albums, a dance-oriented record titled System, and a soul music cover album aptly titled Soul.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal Went On To Release Five Albums In Seven Years

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Seal Went On To Release Five Albums In Seven Years
Dave Hogan/Getty Images
Dave Hogan/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

And the musician didn't stop there. In 2010 he released the compilation album Hits. That same year, Seal released both his seventh and eighth studio albums, Commitment and Soul 2.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then in 2015 and 2017, Seal dropped his ninth and tenth studio albums, 7 and Standards. The latter was wildly recognized and even garnered a 2018 Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. He lost out to Willie Nelson's My Way.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Break From Music To Coach On The Voice

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Seal Went On To Release Five Albums In Seven Years
Nine Network
Nine Network
ADVERTISEMENT

While Seal was in the studio recording all of those albums, he somehow made time for other projects. Television talent competition fans might recognize Seal as one of the coaches on the Australian version of The Voice.

ADVERTISEMENT

He wound up coaching two back-to-back winners on the show. Obviously, they cared more about his talent, coaching abilities, and getting a leg-up in the competition more than the scars covering his face.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal Was Cast In The TV Musical The Passion: New Orleans

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Passion: New Orleans
Erika Goldring/WireImage
Erika Goldring/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT

His scarring didn't deter Seal from taking up some acting either. In 2016, Tyler Perry made a musical spectacle of The Passion: New Orleans, where Seal was cast as Pontius Pilate. It received mixed reviews, but Seal's performance was praised by more than one critic who regarded his role as a standout moment.

ADVERTISEMENT

Perry wasn't the only one who didn't care about Seal's scarring, though. He also caught the eye of supermodel Heidi Klum.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2005, He Married Supermodel Heidi Klum

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2005, He Married Supermodel Heidi Klum
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Backtracking to 2004, Seal was on the cover of more than one tabloid for a specific reason -- his supposed relationship with supermodel Heidi Klum. Of course, their relationship wasn't exactly in the rumor mill, considering the couple was very public about it.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2005, they said their "I dos" on a Mexican Beach, going back each year on their anniversary to renew their vows to one another. "It's a very special moment to us," Seal said during a 2010 interview.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal and Heidi Divorced in 2014

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
In 2005, He Married Supermodel Heidi Klum
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic
ADVERTISEMENT

After marrying and starting a family together, Seal and Klum decided to go their separate ways in 2012. After nearly seven years of marriage, the two finalized their divorce in 2014.

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2017, tabloids got word that Seal was in a relationship with Delta Goodrem, his co-star on The Voice. But it was all just hearsay, and the two were nothing more than good friends who respected each other as musicians and artists.

ADVERTISEMENT

Stories About His Scars Have Been Circulating Since The '90s

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Stories About His Scars Have Been Circulating Since The '90s
Tony Buckingham/Redferns
Tony Buckingham/Redferns
ADVERTISEMENT

Even with his successful career and incredibly public love life, there was something that was even more interesting about Seal. At least more interesting to his fans and the general public.

ADVERTISEMENT

His facial scars have been a point of conversation since he hit the music scene in the 1990s. From there, more than one story began to circulate, all making up tall tales of how the Grammy Award-winning artist got his scars.

ADVERTISEMENT

Some People Thought His Scars Were From An Accident

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Some People Thought His Scars Were From An Accident
Scott Gries/Getty Images
Scott Gries/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

One of the most common stories people came up with was that Seal was in some sort of accident when he was younger, perhaps a car crash. And the result of the accident was facial scarring.

ADVERTISEMENT

While that's a sound story and quite plausible, it's not how Seal wound up with his infamous scars. But that also wasn't the only story that began circulating. The second common story was they were tribal scarring!

ADVERTISEMENT

Others Thought They Were Tribal Markings

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Others Thought They Were Tribal Markings
JOERG KOCH/DDP/AFP via Getty Images
JOERG KOCH/DDP/AFP via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The second common story was a bit more interesting than an accident of some sort. Some people thought he wound up with the scars after he participated in some kind of ancient ritual.

ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Seal set the record straight. "People always want them to be tribal scars. That's just the nature of the media and of people’s imaginations." The scars aren't from a ritual or from an accident.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Scars Are A Result Of DLE

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Scars Are A Result Of DLE
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
Evan Agostini/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The truth of the matter is Seal wasn't in some horrible accident, and he didn't go through an ancient ritual, resulting in the infamous scars on his cheeks. Instead, they came from something that's completely and utterly out of his control.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal's facial scaring comes from something called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), an autoimmune skin condition that leaves large scarring on the affected area. In Seal's specific case, his face.

ADVERTISEMENT

DLE Is Most Common On The Face, Ears, And Scalp

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
DLE Favors The Face, Ears, And Scalp
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
ADVERTISEMENT

According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology (AOCD) and the American Osteopathic Association, "Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic skin condition of sores with inflammation and scarring favoring the face, ears, and scalp and at times on other body areas."

ADVERTISEMENT

And while doctors aren't entirely sure what causes DLE, the AOCD has a fairly good idea. On their website, the AOCD says, "it [DLE] is thought to be autoimmune with the body's immune system incorrectly attacking normal skin."

ADVERTISEMENT

Diagnosed With DLE At The Age Of 21

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
seal-scars
YouTube/Faze Kp
YouTube/Faze Kp
ADVERTISEMENT

Seal has never been shy about his DLE. Since being diagnosed at the age of 21, the singer has done multiple interviews regarding the disease. In each, he's expressed how the scarring on his face isn't the only thing DLE has changed in his appearance.

ADVERTISEMENT

The disease also attacked his scalp, resulting in Seal's hair falling out at a young age. Regardless, there's no denying Seal's good looks. He's even been named "Sexiest Singer Alive" twice by Glamour magazine, in 2020 and again in 2021.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Scars Made Him Grow As An Artist

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Scars Made Him Grow As An Artist
James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images
James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

At the beginning of his career, Seal had an interview with The New York Times. In the interview, they questioned the new artist's facial scarring and how he was going to deal with people talking about it in the entertainment industry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal opened up during the 1996 interview, saying that his scars were actually helping him grow as an artist, and he wasn't going to let them stand in his way of making music.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Scars Aren't Something Seal Can Outlive

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Scars Aren't Something Seal Can Outlive
James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images
James Leynse/Corbis via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

During his 1996 with The New York Times, Seal said, "I believe that in all forms of art there has to have been some initial adversity: that is what makes art, as far as I'm concerned. And it’s not something you outlive: once you experience it, it’s always with you.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Of course, being human, Seal wasn't always fond of his facial scarring. In fact, the blatant scarring on his face used to get him very depressed and down.

ADVERTISEMENT

Depression Was A Huge Part Of His Life

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Depression Was A Huge Part Of His Life
Ray Tamarra/GC Images
Ray Tamarra/GC Images
ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Seal discussed how his facial scarring affected him as a young adult. "I got really depressed about [the scars] at first, as you can understand."

ADVERTISEMENT

Considering how hard it is to be a normal young adult, it's safe to say a lot of people would understand how facial scarring would get a young Seal down. Of course, there are only a few people who truly understand.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal Isn't The Only Star Dealing With Lupus

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Seal Isn't The Only Star Dealing With Lupus
Mauricio Santana/Getty Images
Mauricio Santana/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Even so, Seal eventually got out of his slump. He even confessed to growing with the scars, telling Rolling Stone magazine, "Now I really like them." Now that's some big personal growth!

ADVERTISEMENT

And he isn't the only person in Hollywood who has gone through Lupus treatments. Stars such as Selena Gomez, Nick Cannon, Toni Braxton, and even Kristen Johnson have publicly talked about their personal battles with lupus and how it's changed their lives.

ADVERTISEMENT

Other Hollywood Celebrities Have Spoken About Scars

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Other Hollywood Celebrities Have Spoken About Scars
Robert Kamau/GC Images
Robert Kamau/GC Images
ADVERTISEMENT

For a lot of people, their scars are part of their story. And, if his interviews are any indication, it seems as though Seal feels the same way about his facial scars, once he came to terms that they weren't going anywhere, of course.

ADVERTISEMENT

And he isn't the only one in Hollywood who has spoken up about scars and how they've changed him as a person. Celebrities such as Demi Lovato have come out and spoken about scars.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scars Are Impressive Battle Wounds

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Scars Are Impressive Battle Wounds
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview for The Good Men Project: The Conversation No One Is Having, Demi Lovato spoke of scars, saying, "I think scars are like battle wounds – beautiful, in a way. They show what you've been through and how strong you are for coming out of it".

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal even spoke during his interview for the project, speaking of his facial scars and saying, "If I could design something, I don't think I could do it better."

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal's Scars Make Him Who He Is

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Seal's Scars Make Him Who He Is
Paras Griffin/WireImage
Paras Griffin/WireImage
ADVERTISEMENT

While many people would shy away from the public eye and not search for a career in the spotlight, Seal didn't let his DLE stop him from pursuing something he loves -- music and performing.

ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, the artist said, "Something that had kind of been initially traumatizing turned out to be something that has made me instantly recognizable." He's not wrong, considering the conversation about his scars is still being talked about years after his initial fame.

ADVERTISEMENT

Other People Have It Worse

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Other People Have It Worse
C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images
C Brandon/Redferns via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Through the years, Seal also came to the realization that while his face is severely scarred and the DLE resulted in his hair loss, he got off easy compared to a lot of other people in the world.

ADVERTISEMENT

During an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, the singer got real about his initial self-consciousness surrounding his looks, saying, "I quickly realized this body is not who we are. I got off lightly."

ADVERTISEMENT

For Seal, It's All About Mental Health And Exercise

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
For Seal, It's All About Mental Health And Exercise
Rick Kern/Getty Images
Rick Kern/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Even so, it was a long road for Seal to come to terms with his disease. He told Yahoo Lifestyle that his acceptance came in partial thanks to therapy and, believe it or not, exercising on a regular basis.

ADVERTISEMENT

During the interview, the singer said, "Mental health and exercise go hand-in-hand, although it's sometimes easier said than done, especially for people who are suffering from depression. It’s been huge for me.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Seal Believes His Purpose In Life Is Communication

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Seal Believes His Purpose In Life Is Communication
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Cindy Ord/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

After years of dealing with DLE, Seal seems to be in a good place, enjoying his career and the fact that his music has touched so many lives. During an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, Seal expressed how the disease doesn't define him and that his purpose is something else altogether.

ADVERTISEMENT

He said, "I'm not sitting here crying about my lupus or anxiety. It isn’t by chance that I just have a voice to sing that touches people. I believe that my purpose is communication. That is a blessing.”

Related Topics: