Cat Burns, the 25-year-old singer and star of BBC One’s Celebrity Traitors, has undergone breast reduction surgery after years of struggling with physical pain and unwanted attention due to over-sexualisation.
The BRIT Award-nominated artist shared the news on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, posting a photo from her hospital bed and reflecting on the emotional journey leading up to the surgery.
“I was going back and forth on whether I was gonna share this, but I know I’ve built an understanding community of people,” Burns wrote. “I’ve just come out of my breast reduction surgery! Had a big fat cry once I saw Mum, Sisty and Sarah. (Joyful tears, by the way — the amount of relief and happiness I feel is overwhelming.)”
She continued, detailing the challenges she faced with her body from a young age: “I’ve always struggled with my boobies since they arrived on my chest at like 12. They caused me so much pain when exercising, and I deeply hated the over-sexualisation it brought.”
Despite experimenting with different supportive garments over the years, Burns said she ultimately decided to proceed with surgery while she was young and healthy. “I want to love my body going into the next part of my life! Today marks the start of my new life! Surgery went really well, I did affirmations before and after, and I’m feeling okay!”
The singer also shared how she planned to spend her recovery: “Gonna watch Traitors now from my hospital bed and chill. Love you all.”
Burns’ announcement comes shortly after revealing her exit from Celebrity Traitors. The singer was the last woman standing in the series finale but was ultimately voted out during the final roundtable discussion, leaving fellow contestant Alan Carr as the winner.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Burns explained that her gender may have influenced her elimination. “In hindsight, I think if we didn’t banish Kate [Garraway] before, I probably would have had a chance, as there would have been two women left. Then they could have been like, ‘Is it Cat, is it Kate?’ Because Kate was gone, I was the last one left, so then they were like, ‘It has to be her.’”
Fans of the show had speculated that Burns being the sole female contestant left would indicate her role as a Traitor, and her exit confirmed many viewers’ predictions. During the series, other contestants debated her alliances and strategy, with no clear on-screen suspicion pointing solely to her.
