Will Howard decommit from Ohio and commit to Florida instead, passing up offers from Alabama, Texas, and more?

Will Howard decommit from Ohio and commit to Florida instead, passing up offers from Alabama, Texas, and more?

Derek Hough Says Dancing with the Stars Allowed Him to Be Seen as ‘an Artistic Athlete’ After Years of Being Bullied as a Kid

 

The DWTS judge opened up about his journey on the competition show during a panel discussion at an Emmy consideration event on Sunday, April 6. Derek, now 39, started dancing when he was just 11 years old, and he said the perception of the sport was very different back then.

 

“For me, having a platform and having a stage like Dancing with the Stars that is elevating dance to new heights over this past, almost, 20 years,” he began. “I honestly was bullied as a kid going to school for being a dancer. I was picked on.”

 

“I can’t tell you how much it means to me on some deeper level than just a compliment,” he added. “It means a lot more because to see that little boy that grew up when dancing wasn’t cool, and to see where it’s now — it’s looked at as artistic athletes. Dancers are artistic athletes. And that, for me, is just an amazing thing. So, I’m just thankful for this beautiful show that has elevated dance so much.”

 

Derek and his sister, Julianne Hough, joined DWTS as pros in 2007. While Julianne, who is now a host, left in 2009, Derek stayed through 2016 before taking a break to star in NBC’s Hairspray Live! alongside Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande, Martin Short and Harvey Fierstein. Then, in 2020, he returned as a judge.

 

Season 33 of DWTS broke records for voting and viewership after two decades on the air, ending with Jenna Johnson and Joey Graziadei taking home the Len Goodman Mirrorball trophy. Derek attributed much of that success to the cast’s unique use of social media.

 

“It’s like the show continues — y’all don’t have to wait until Tuesday night, you get to watch it all week,” he explained, joking: “Honestly, sometimes it’s hard because I’m like, I just love the TikToks, [but] let’s start with the dancing, let’s start with the dancing. Which you do, you fall in love with all of them during the week, and it’s so cool to have this extra element to show.”

 

Julianne noted that fan support is what truly keeps the show going.