‘Strictly Come Dancing’ pro Johannes Radebe says the BBC show helped him accept his sexuality
The South African dancer has previously opened up about homophobia he faced as a child
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
Strictly Come Dancing pro Johannes Radebe says the BBC show has helped him accept his sexuality.
The professional dancer has been part of the BBC ballroom and latin dance competition since 2018 and has previously opened up about his sexuality and the homophobic abuse he received as a child.
And this weekend, Johannes – who was born in South Africa – was booted off from this season of the show but in an interview with The Sun, he opened up about how the show helped him come to terms with his sexuality.
He said: “I’ve always known. I’ve always been proud. I’ve always been myself, regardless of what was said to me and where I come from.
“I grew up in a country where homosexuality was frowned upon.
“The society around me pointed to me and said, ‘There’s something wrong with you’. But Strictly has helped me be a better person and accepting of myself.
“When I got to the UK it was beautiful – for the first time in my life I felt liberated.”