We live in a world today where, for the most part, people can express themselves in almost any way they choose (within reasonable limits).
While there are exceptions, overall, individuals can experiment with fashion, hairstyles, tattoos, and more in a way that was not possible at most points in history.
This is a positive development: no one should be persecuted for how they choose to dress or decorate themselves, just as no one should face discrimination or stigma for choosing a piercing or tattoo (unless it’s intentionally offensive or provocative).
That said, whether we like it or not, there are boundaries to what most people are willing to accept when it comes to body modification and personal expression. One individual, 35-year-old Anthony Loffredo, may have crossed that line.
Whenever Anthony goes out, whether it’s for a meal or just a walk, he attracts attention from nearly everyone he passes. In fact, reports suggest he struggles to even get a job interview, with some taxi drivers refusing to pick him up and certain places turning him away altogether.
Why? This is largely due to his quest to transform himself into a figure he refers to as the “black alien.”
While many of us might be content with bold tattoos, unconventional piercings, or brightly colored hair, Loffredo, from France, has taken things much further. He has undergone a nose amputation, had both ears removed, tattooed his skin and eyeballs black, split his tongue, filed his teeth, and surgically removed two of his fingers.
In addition, he has had demonic symbols burned into his skin and had horns implanted beneath it, all to give him a more monstrous look.
According to the Daily Mail, Loffredo, a former nightclub bouncer, claims he’s only completed 65% of the transformations he intends to make. One future modification involves cutting off one of his legs to replace it with a biomechanical one.
Reflecting on his body before the surgeries, the 35-year-old told a UK Channel 4 show last year: “Yes, [I was] happy, but not in the right body. It [wasn’t] my body, my real body.”
On the Club 113 podcast, he added: “I’m fascinated, it fascinates me — everything, the human body. [My look is inspired by] a bit of everything, because no one knows what is out there.”
Despite his extreme appearance, Loffredo says his parents eventually accepted his decisions after the initial shock. In addition, he has found love and is currently dating model and tattoo enthusiast Melina Shakur.
Loffredo often has to travel abroad for some procedures, as they are illegal in his home country. The surgeries are carried out in underground clinics and tattoo shops, often under general anesthesia, as reported by Daily Mail.
However, according to recent reports, Loffredo has stated that he doesn’t plan on undergoing more procedures for now.
“Right now, I am going to focus on something real,” he said in Spanish, “not more on how to live life.”
Additionally, he and his girlfriend Melina Shakur have reportedly considered the idea of Loffredo removing some of his tattoos.
In any case, we wish him the best moving forward. His look is undoubtedly unique, and while it may be unconventional, the most important thing is that he is happy with it.