Yahoo News Strictly's Johannes Radebe details homophobic abuse at school
'I was punched many times and called a sissy'
Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe has opened up about the homophobic abuse he suffered at school in South Africa.
Radebe, who grew up near Johannesberg, spoke to The Guardian about dealing with bullies and bad times at school.
Read more: 'Strictly' partners John Whaite and Johannes Radebe go on 'Celebrity Gogglebox'
He said: "I had to duck and dive. School was horrid.
"They [the bullies] used to say to me, 'Oh, sissy boy!'"
Radebe added: "If I was close by I would have been punched, which I was many times."
Radebe has previously opened up about his "internalised homophobia" and "hating" himself over his sexuality.
On Loose Women he discussed not being ready to fall in love: "I blame it on internalised homophobia and the fact that I have hated myself for such a long time. So I'm in a better place. I also deserve some love."
During the 2021 edition of Strictly Come Dancing, Radebe made history by becoming one half of the show's first same sex couple along with The Great British Bake Off contestant John Whaite.
Radebe said that he felt more comfortable discussing his sexuality after dancing publicly with Whaite.
He said it helped his relationship with his mother: "What happened between John and I last year really changed my relationship with my mother - for the first time, we can speak about my sexuality openly. There was no problem but it was something that we never addressed, it was something we never spoke about."
Radebe is set to embark on a solo tour entitled Freedom Unleashed based on South African rhythms and party anthems.
The tour, which starts on 31 March in Bridlington, will visit various locations in the UK and Ireland until it wraps in Dublin on 28 May.
Radebe will also be visiting cities such as London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Watch below: Strictly's John and Johannes reveal training fall out
