Yahoo News Strictly’s Johannes Radebe was dunked in toilets in homophobic bullying
The professional dancer's memoir Jojo: Finally Home is going to be made into a film
Watch Strictly’s Johannes Radebe talk about being dunked in toilets
What did you miss?
Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe remembered being "dunked in toilets" while he suffered homophobic bullying at school.
The professional dancer's memoir Jojo: Finally Home is going to be made into a film and the star joined Good Morning Britain to talk at length about his experiences from being "heavily bullied" at school to his dazzling time on Strictly.
Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Radebe told about how he hated his time at school because of the bullying. However, the professional dancer said he always felt safe at home where he was surrounded by his family and his friends.
What, how and why?
Richard Madeley said: "Essentially there are some environments where it's easier to be gay than others. Being gay you say, a young gay in a South African township is not a good environment."
Radebe responded: "No it's not." Madeley asked him to speak about how difficult it was and Radede explained: "I was heavily bullied at school. I always say this, I disliked school that much because I would be dunked in toilets for no reason."
He added: "That's just how far it goes. Dance was my refuge. School I hated so when I was at home with my family and friends that's where I felt safe. That's why the place was so stifling as a young child. I just wanted to get away. I thought there must be more to life than this."
Presenters Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh had lots of sympathy for the Strictly Come Dancing star as he shared his terrible experience at school. Madeley then asked Radebe whether he was "out" at this point.
To which Rabede playfully responded: "Richard, have you met me?" He further explained more seriously: "I was a happy boy. I was quite a happy and flamboyant boy and that drew attention to me. It didn't help that I liked dancing, you know?"
Singh asked Radebe about how Strictly had transformed his life. The dancer praised the BBC show for giving him the confidence to be truly himself with the world. In a happy moment, he shared his delight at how his starring role on the show impacts children watching at home.
He said: "There's a confidence that I walk with now in the world. That I thank Strictly for giving me the platform for. I aslo realise that a lot of children have been impacted by seeing that. Representation is everything. We both said this, you can't be what you can't see."
What else happened on Good Morning Britain?
Radebe opened up about how his life has turned out better than he could have ever imagined, even teaching Queen Camilla to dance. He said: "It's incredible. I can't tell you I'm in a better position now than I could ever have been in my life."
He discussed how his relationship with his family has blossomed too. He added: "With my family, my own family, our relationship is so much better. It's so much better because - as you can imagine - there was so much misunderstanding on how my life was going to turn out.
"It's my life but it's nice now I'm in a position to speak to my uncles about my future plans. The fact that I want to get married to another man. They are not phased by it. I've brought them along with me."
Good Morning Britain is on weekdays from 6am on ITV1 & ITVX
