Derek Hough is opening up about several scary incidents he experienced as a kid. The “Dancing With the Stars” judge shared his thoughts on bullying and explained his own terrifying personal experience.
Derek Hough Vulnerably Shares Scary Bullying Experience
On October 13, Hough took to Instagram to share an important message. In the video, he noted, “Just wanted to come on here and share a few thoughts that have been on my heart lately.”
He explained that he had spoken at a children’s hospital event recently, “where we had this really meaningful conversation about bullying.”
Hough continued, “For those of you who don’t know this about me, but 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 hogtied in a field for hours.”
“But that was a whole different level of what you might call physical and emotional torture,” he added.
The “DWTS” judge noted, “But now, we’re living in an age where bullying has shifted into the digital world and, with me about to become a father, it really got me thinking about the world that we’re shaping for each other.”
‘Dancing With the Stars’ Judge Asks People to ‘Pause & Think’
Hough explained how social media has given people the ability to share their “unique thoughts and perspectives,” calling it a “beautiful thing” to connect in this way.
He also pointed out how many lean into negativity, however.
“‘Power over others is weakness in disguise.’ Recently, I had a heartfelt conversation at a children’s hospital event where we were raising money for mental health programs,” he wrote in the caption.
Hough continued, “We talked a lot about bullying, not just the kind I faced growing up, but the kind that happens online now, the kind that so many teens and adults deal with every day.”
“The reality is, negativity is always going to exist in some form. We can’t necessarily shield ourselves or our kids from every harsh word, but we can equip them [and] ourselves with the tools to understand that sometimes that negativity is just someone else’s weakness trying to disguise itself as power,” the “Extra” host shared.
He asked, “So here’s a thought: what if we take a moment to reflect on the kind of culture we want to build?”
Hough shared that he has a new perspective as a soon-to-be first-time dad. “Before we post or comment, let’s pause and think: are we building each other up or tearing each other down? Are we focusing on kindness and good intentions? As I step into fatherhood, I’m thinking about the world we’re shaping for our kids and how we can all be a little more mindful of the voices we choose to amplify. Let’s make that a conversation worth having. All the Love ❤️ D.”
Fans lit up the comments section, praising Hough for his message. “As a therapist who works with teens, I can’t applaud this enough,” one fan wrote. “Thank you for speaking on it.”
Another fan commented, “Beautiful message. I’m sorry you were bullied, that’s heartbreaking. You are such a kind soul, thoughtful and caring and your baby is going to be blessed to have you for a dad! Light & love.”
