Famed British artist Damien Hirst shared a delightful life update with followers as he introduced his newborn boy to the world.
Damien and his long-time girlfriend Sophie Cannell posted the happy news on their website social media on Wednesday, May 8, as fans sent their well wishes to the growing family.
In a classic crazy dad move, Damien, 58, announced the birth to his million followers with some beautiful photos of the bundle of joy, next to the funny caption: 'I'm trying not to let the arrival of this beautiful little boy disrupt snooker'.
The first image shows 30-year-old Sophie – with whom the Leed-born artist has been in a relationship since 2019 – as she snuggles next to the baby boy on the hospital bed. The little toddler wore a onesie with a white and blue pattern.
The second image shows the new dad – 28 years Sophie's senior – sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the newborn as he plays snooker on his phone lying to the side.
Happy fans flocked to the comments to congratulate the new parents.
“Amazing, one of your best works yet,” wrote Deborahrushonart. 'Congratulations and well done mom. I hope she's doing well,” the user did this to check if anything was being repeated.
Another fan defended Damien against trolls who criticized the artist for becoming a father later in life and confusing him with the grandfather.
'What's wrong with people? A baby at any age is a blessing, they learn from you, you learn from them, it's a win/win situation no matter how old you are!' Jeandamgaard commented.
“Being an older dad is the best!” Added Popeofwelding.
Sofie too posted an image of just the baby, as yet unnamed, on her Instagram with the caption: “Welcome to the world OUR BOY.”
Sophie revealed she was pregnant in November with a social media post in which she showed off her baby bump as she sat by the side of a pool with the caption: “He's a water boy.”
The couple was spotted in December pushing a chihuahua around in a stroller on a date night in Mayfair.
Damien, reportedly the richest living artist in Britain, is already a father of three children with his ex-partner Maia Norman. They share 28-year-old Connor Ojala, Cassius Atticus, 23, and Cyrus Joe, 18.
Damien rose to fame in the art world in the 1990s when his work on preserved dead animals became known.
The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Nobody Living, a 4.3 meter long tiger shark submerged in formaldehyde, is his best-known work.
In 2022, the 58-year-old made headlines for burning £10 million worth of polka dot-style artwork in protest against NFTs.
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