Derek Hough Shares Memories Of Being Bullied As A Child
Dancing With The Stars pro Derek Hough might be a fan favorite today, but according to the star dancer, he's known his fair share of bullies.
At the 2014 GLSEN Respect Awards, Hough stopped to talk to ET's Denny Directo about his experiences with bullying, and how he overcame the pain.
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"I had some neighbors who… pretty much tormented my family," Hough revealed. "We ended up having to move because it got so bad. But for me, it was one of those things where I 'overcame.' It was more when I got older and I found dance, and it gave me a purpose. It gave me a focus and a motivation."
Hough took his love of dance and turned it into an impressive career, appearing on the TV series Nashvilleand serving as one ofDancing With The Star's most celebrated pros in 15 different seasons, winning five times – more than any other pro on the show.
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Hough also opened up about how he uses his public platform on Dancing With The Stars to spread his message of positivity.
"I want to be a servant," Hough said. "I want to help and serve people. And I want to be forgiving, and I want to be FOR giving to others."
Check out the video for more from the celebrated dancer on how he encourages everyone to stay positive and emotionally healthy.
Hough isn't the only star who's had to live under the shadow of bullying. From LeAnn Rimes to Selena Gomez to pop star Meghan Trainor-- whose body image anthem "All About That Bass" has taken the world by storm-- have had to face down bullies over their lives. Check out the video below to hear from Trainor about how she worked through the negativity to become a household name.
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