“Dancing With the Stars” judge Derek Hough may be well adored by his 3.6 million Instagram followers and “DWTS” audiences everywhere, but as a child, he didn’t have as many fans. In fact, the pro dancer revealed he was bullied growing up.
Hough shed light on these difficult experiences in an Instagram video on Oct. 13. “I just got back from Yosemite, but before I left, I spoke at a children’s hospital event where we had this really meaningful conversation about bullying,” Hough began, before sharing his own experiences being bullied.
“I was severely bullied as a kid, myself. I experienced some pretty extreme stuff — being hung by a tree by my feet, being spat on, beaten up, a gun held to my head, even hog-tied in a field for hours,” he revealed.
He didn’t share any additional details, but described the bullies’ treatment of him as “physical and emotional torture,” emphasizing that bullying is still prevalent today, but has “shifted into the digital world.”
Now expecting a child with his wife, Hayley Erbert, Hough expressed how these past experiences continue to affect him. “With me about to become a father, it really got me thinking about the world that we’re shaping for each other,” he said.
He encouraged his fans to be kinder to one another online. “We can share our thoughts in a way that still expresses what we believe but also lifts others up. We can model a culture where being heard, it doesn’t require tearing anyone down,” he said.
Hough ended his video on a hopeful note, stating: “Together, I really believe that we can shift this culture and create a space where everyone feels heard and respected.”
Hough’s future child will be his first with Erbert. The couple married in 2023 after dating for eight years. Last year, they experienced a miscarriage, which they discussed in a different Instagram video on Oct. 20.
Currently, Hough is a judge on “Dancing with the Stars” Season 34. New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with new episodes streaming on Hulu the next day.
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