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Frances Bean Cobain has opened up about a near-death experience that changed her perspective on life while celebrating her milestone 30th birthday.
The visual artist, who is the only child of the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain and Hole singer Courtney Love, took to Instagram on August 18 — her birthday — to reflect on how she has grown in the past decade.
’30!!! I made it! Honestly, 20-year-old Frances wasn’t sure that was going to happen,’ she wrote.
‘At the time, an intrinsic sense of deep self loathing dictated by insecurity, destructive coping mechanisms & more trauma than my body or brain knew how to handle, informed how I saw myself and the world; through a lens of resentment for being brought into a life that seemingly attracted so much chaos and the kind of pain tied to grief that felt inescapable.’
Frances Bean Cobain opened up about a near-death experience in a candid Instagram post celebrating her 30th birthday on August 18
The visual artist shared photos of herself, her loved ones, and her art, including a snapshot of herself with her boyfriend, professional skateboarder Riley Hawk (pictured)
Frances reflected on how she has grown in the past decade, saying her 20-year-old self ‘wasn’t sure’ she’d make it to 30
She continued: ‘Then, an event on a plane which brought me closer in proximity to death is ironically the event that catapulted me towards running at this lived experience with radical gratitude. I’m glad to have proven myself wrong & to have found ways to transform pain into knowledge.’
Frances shared a quote from author Jaiya John that she ‘holds closely,’ writing: ‘The softer she became with herself, the softer she became with the world.’
‘It’s a sentiment I try to remember daily,’ she explained. ‘Entering this new decade I hope to stay soft no matter how hardening the world can feel at times, bask in the present moment with reverence, shower the people I am lucky enough to love with more appreciation than words could ever do justice & hold space to keep learning, so the growth never stops. I’m happy to be here & I’m happy you’re here too.’
Frances is the only child of Hole singer Courtney Love and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, who died by suicide in 1994
Frances’s post included a black and white snapshot of her godfather, former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, holding a small dog
Frances (pictured with friends) said it was an ‘event on a plane’ that brought her ‘closer in proximity to death’ that changed her perspective and gave her ‘radical gratitude’
Her post featured photos of herself, her loved ones, and her art, including a snapshot of herself with her boyfriend, professional skateboarder Riley Hawk.
Another black and white picture shows her godfather, former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe, holding a small dog.
‘Happy Birthday!’ he commented on her post.
Actress Liv Tyler responded with four red heart emojis, while her boyfriend’s father, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, added: ‘Bon anniversaire!’
‘I’m glad to have proven myself wrong & to have found ways to transform pain into knowledge,’ wrote Frances (pictured with friends)
Frances (pictured with friends) also shared a quote from author Jaiya John that she ‘holds closely,’ writing: ‘The softer she became with herself, the softer she became with the world’
‘It’s a sentiment I try to remember daily,’ she explained. ‘Entering this new decade I hope to stay soft no matter how hardening the world can feel at times…’
Frances’s father, Kurt, struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues throughout his life. He died by suicide at his Seattle home at the age of 27 in April 1994. Frances was just shy of two years old at the time.
Her mother, Courtney, was married to Kurt from 1992 until his death. Frances inherited 37 percent of her late father’s estate in December 2009.
In 2019, she revealed that she feels ‘guilt’ over inheriting the money, which is reported to be more than $95,000 a month, because she ‘didn’t earn it,’ People reported.
‘It’s almost like this big, giant loan that I’ll never get rid of,’ she explained during an episode of the RuPaul: What’s The Tee? podcast.
Frances included an image of her artwork in her celebratory birthday post
She also posted a meme poking fun at what it’s like to get older
Frances (pictured with her mother in 2018) was just four months shy of her second birthday when her father died
‘I have an almost foreign relationship to it or guilt because it feels like money from somebody that I’ve never met, let alone earned myself.’
Nirvana burst out of the underground and into the mainstream music scene in 1991 with the release of their seminal album Nevermind, which features their powerful lead single Smells Like Teen Spirit.
For the next three years, the Seattle-based rockers went on to become among the biggest bands in the world, selling over 75 million records worldwide.
Eventually, Nirvana was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in their first year of eligibility in 2014.
Frances has shared less than a handful of Instagram posts over the past year after taking a year-long break from the platform in 2021.
Frances (pictured in January) has shared less than a handful of Instagram posts over the past year after taking a year-long break from the platform in 2021
A few months ago, Frances she revealed on Instagram Stories how she spends Father’s Day after losing her dad when she was just a toddler
In June, she revealed on Instagram Stories how she spends Father’s Day after losing her dad when she was just a toddler, detailing how she channels her emotions into a creative project.
‘Today can be complicated for a lot of people,’ she wrote. ‘So I just thought I would share my yearly tradition for this day.
‘I try to use whatever energy I’m feeling (sometimes sad, sometimes deeply wounded or lost, but in more recent years curious & compassionate) to bring into the world something that hasn’t previously existed, through some kind of creative outlet.
‘I like to believe that if something beautiful can co-exist along side something sad or complicated then that allows room for those emotions to be circulated with intention and meaning.
‘Sending whatever needs to be sent your way today,’ she concluded the message, including three heart and blue butterfly emojis.