Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe reveals hurtful trolling after same sex partnership with John Whaite

Virgin Radio

12 May 2022, 15:39

Strictly's Johannes Radebe has shared his troubles with social media bullies and the effect it's had on him since being partnered with Bake Off star John Whaite.

Speaking on the Loose Men panel today alongside Vernon Kay, rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall MBE and radio presenter Roman Kemp to fly the flag for Mental Health Awareness Week, the dancing pro revealed he limits time online to protect himself.

He explained: "It plays with my mind. It honestly does and I'll admit that. After everything - because you know, you get the trolls, you get everything and I was like, I'm opening myself to a world out there that does not deserve to have an opinion about my life… you give them, they want more, so I pulled back.

"I did have a glimpse. There is good out there, which was nice to see.

"But there was also backlash and it was just not nice to see things like, 'Do not come back to Africa because of who you are' and stuff.''

Speaking about loneliness when first coming to the UK, he admitted: "I was surrounded by all these people [on Strictly], believe me I've found a family now, but four years ago when I arrived I knew nobody and I found that very difficult.

"I was saying to my friends back home, 'I can't go out to a club and have a proper down down as I don't know anyone,' I was asking everyone to be my friend and just trying to build that tribe."

Talking about therapy, he said 'but I sat down in that chair and I spoke to my therapist and I'm just so grateful for it because coming out of it now, things make sense and I'm able to compartmentalise.'

"It's given me the tools to navigate in this world."