Alison Lapper says late son Parys was bullied about her disability
19-year-old described as a ‘mischievous, generous, kind, loving, frustrating, cheeky, forgiving, beautiful boy’
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The artist Alison Lapper has said her late son was bullied by his schoolmates about her disability.
Parys Lapper was 19 years old when he was found dead in a Worthing hotel in July. His mother cremated him on Thursday, and was told by police he may have died of an overdose.
Ms Lapper and her son Parys’ relationship first entered the spotlight after she posed naked while eight months pregnant with him for a Marc Quinn statue. It stood in Trafalgar Square for two years.
The artist, who has no arms and shortened legs after being born with the rare condition phocomelia, told the Sunday Times that her son had suffered cruel taunts from his peers at school.
While his time at primary school had been a happy affair, Ms Lapper said that by the age of 13, Parys began to ask her not to attend parents’ evening.
She realised when they turned up at his school together, they “were the show”, she told the paper.
“The next day Parys would go in and they would rip pieces out of him,” Ms Lapper said. “I could see how anxious he was.”
Parys’ funeral was held on Thursday. Ms Lapper’s fiance Si Clift described him on Facebook as a “mischievous, generous, kind, loving, frustrating, cheeky, forgiving, beautiful boy”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments