Magician With Chronic Illness Responds to Publication That Claimed He Was 'Looking Fit’

On Feb. 27, British website Metro posted an article with photos of magician Dynamo and his wife, Kelly, out walking their dog. The article claimed Dynamo looked “fighting fit” after previously gaining weight due to his ongoing battle with Crohn’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

The following day, Dynamo took to Twitter to share what he thought of the article.

“Hey @MetroUK I’m doing better thanks, but as any Crohns/RA sufferer will you tell you, the way someone looks isn’t necessarily a great indicator of health,” he wrote. “Like many others, there are times when I look great but feel like absolute dog shit and vice versa!”

Hey @MetroUK I’m doing better thanks, but as any Crohns/RA sufferer will you tell you, the way someone looks isn’t necessarily a great indicator of health. Like many others, there are times when I look great but feel like absolute dog shit and vice versa!https://t.co/yUHZGLGjFI

— Dynamo (@Dynamomagician) February 28, 2019

Many fans responded on Twitter to say they were glad he spoke out:

“Well said mate, like you I suffer with Crohn’s. I’ve had it since I was 10 & like you I’ve had quite a lot of bowel removed. That’s why my tattoo reads “ just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.” Keep fighting man” – @AndyLeeman91

“Well said Dynamo! It’s so important to highlight invisible illnesses and combat the stigma. As someone with CFS/ME I totally get this and am fighting an invisible battle most days. Thank you for sharing this and publicising it!” – @phoenix_flame86

“As a fellow sufferer, I cannot agree more. Thank you for raising our profile and dispelling some myths!” – @silentplayer

Dynamo, whose real name is Steven Frayne, has been open about his health issues in the past. In Mar. 2018, he posted a video to his Twitter explaining that the different medications he was on had caused him to gain weight.

Thank you for all the kind support. Here’s a little update on the situation. #roadtorecovery #iwillbeback pic.twitter.com/Qlh45ycKbw

— Dynamo (@Dynamomagician) March 27, 2018

The video gained traction, causing fans to post their “moon faces” online. A “moon face,” or facial swelling, is a side effect that can happen when people are taking steroids such as prednisone. After Dynamo’s video, fans began sharing their support with photos of their own moon faces, along with the hashtag #MoonFaceforDynamo.

About a month after the video, Dynamo explained in an interview with BBC that he’s had to work around some things when it comes to performing due to his body’s restrictions.

“If my health isn’t 100 percent, I might have to try different things, that don’t use as much dexterity or use my body as much,” Dynamo said. “I’ve still got my mind, which is quite sharp I like to think.”

How someone appears isn’t always an indicator of how they’re feeling or what their health status is like. If you are dealing with a chronic illness and have dealt with changes in appearance due to medication or other reasons, please know your feelings matter, and you are not alone.