In a shocking new interview Julianne Hough revealed a devastating truth about her past – she was sexually abused at the age of just four by a neighbor who also targeted her brother, Derek Hough.
The sibling duo, who first attracted attention on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” and have since built successful careers in various projects, have faced numerous difficulties.
Julianne Hough’s candid revelations about the traumatic experiences she and Derek Hough endured in their early childhood shed light on the difficult path they have taken to achieve their current success.
Julianne Hough drops childhood bombshell
As The explosion Julianne reportedly appeared on “The Jamie Kern Lima Show” where she spoke about the trauma she suffered during her childhood, including sexual abuse by her neighbor.
“My first experience was when I was about four years old. (It was) a neighbor on our cul-de-sac,” she said on the show. We weekly. “I’ve actually never said that out loud to anyone in an interview before. It was a very confusing time because when you grow up in Mormon culture, everything has to be perfect.”
Julianne added: “And by the way, I’m not the only one in my family who’s gone through something similar. And it was very difficult to come to terms with the fact that no one did anything. When you’re that young and these are your first experiences – whether it’s physical, mental or sexual – this abuse of power against someone who is vulnerable to it, it immediately sets a precedent for this: other people have the power.”
Julianne Hough reveals Derek Hough had ‘a gun to his head’
The same neighbors abused Julianne’s brother Derek. “My brother was hung upside down and had a gun to his head. These people did all kinds of things,” the actress said before becoming emotional.
After taking a moment to compose herself, she added that her mother got the family out of the house as quickly as possible and they cut ties with that neighbor. “I guess my mom did what she could and she wanted to move and leave,” Julianne said on the podcast. “She didn’t want to talk about it, but she wanted to get us out.”
Julianne, who has three sisters besides her brother Derek, subsequently revealed that her siblings had also had traumatic experiences.
“The people who abused my sisters or my brother or me were never reprimanded for it. Because we didn’t say anything,” she continued. “Instead, we just pivoted and moved on. That’s good because we got out of the situation, but for me, that’s another thing where I just pivot, pivot, pivot.”
Derek Hough talks about bullying
Derek has previously spoken about his painful past, revealing that he was relentlessly bullied at a young age. According to the dancer, his passion for dance made him an easy target for bullies, who targeted him solely because of his chosen path.
“They tied my ankles with rope and hung me from a tree,” Derek said on a 2014 episode of “Good Morning America.” “My mom basically told me to do it. She said something like, ‘Listen, touch her back and hit her.’ So I did it.”
It seems that the story he told in 2014 is the same one Julianne talked about in the last podcast.
Julianne Hough was abused again in London
Unfortunately, the child abuse was not the last. In 2013, Julianne revealed that she was “abused mentally, physically and in every way” during her time in London.
“I was 10 years old and looked 28, and I was a very sensual dancer,” she said Cosmopolitan“While I was in London, I was abused, mentally, physically, everything.”
Although she did not elaborate on the abuse, she said she has learned to move on. “I am a very forgiving person and I don’t want to hurt anyone. What’s past is past,” she said.
Derek and Julianne Hough are a strong sibling duo
Not only have Derek and Julianne worked together on high-profile professional projects like their Move Live On Tour and Disney specials, they have also been there for each other in their personal lives.
The brother-sister duo have always supported each other through various challenges, as they have a close bond that goes beyond their professional collaboration. “We actually work pretty well together,” Derek told “Good Morning America” a few years ago about his professional relationship with his sister. “We have kind of this hidden language where we don’t really speak… it’s actually great.”
He continued: “We are very privileged and lucky to be able to do something you love with someone you love and care about. It’s a wonderful thing.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
