Julianne Houghhas been harboring a painful secret for decades, and she’s finally comfortable enough to share her story. The two-timeDancing with the StarsMirrorball Trophy winnerhas remained silent about one of the most traumatic moments of her life, but in an interview withTheJamieKernShow, she spoke about it for the first time in a public forum. In a startling reveal, Hough explained that a neighbor sexually abused her at the age of four. Regarding the decision to hold her silence for so long, Hough stated:
“I’ve actually never said that out loud to anybody in an interview before, but that was a very, very confusing time because, obviously, growing up in the Mormon culture, everything needs to be perfect, everybody needs to put on the shiny, we’ve got our stuff together. And there was not a lot of repercussion for what had happened.”
Hough didn’t simply keep the tragic details from public knowledge, but she also withheld the information from her family as well. However, Hough later revealed that this may not have been a purposeful decision, as she too blocked out the information until recent therapies helped her uncover the hidden memory.
I had forgot about the neighbor thing at 4 years old until I started really doing this work in the last few years. That’s why I think I blocked out from birth to 10, basically, because I had completely disassociated from that ever happening
Several Family Members Experienced Abuse
Despite not feeling comfortable or safe enough to come forward with this and additional challenging events from her childhood, she expressed gratitude for how her parents have since handled the situation. Upon learning the gravity of what her daughter had endured, Hough’s mother quickly packed up the family and relocated to a new area.
Unfortunately, the abuse did not stop with theDancing with the Starshost. In the interview, she documented accounts of other family members who were also abused during their younger years. Hough emphasized the fact that her mother “did do the best she could” to protect the children after learning of the heinous atrocities committed.
“The people that also violated my sisters or my brother or myself, they never got reprimanded for it because we didn’t say something. Instead, we just pivoted and we just moved — which is good, get out of a situation — but also that’s another thing which is for me, just pivot, pivot, pivot.”
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Despite the abuse causing distance and friction between Hough and her parents, she reported positive news about their current status. After divorcing in 2020, she reconnected with her parents, something that she says was profoundly healing. Even though the pain is something that cannot be entirely forgotten, her family is on the mend.
Hough’s deeply personal interview comes amid an upcoming new season ofDancing with the Stars. Afterreplacing Tyra Banks as co-host, Hough is back for another season alongsideFreshPrinceOfBel-Airstar, Alfonso Ribeiro. As of now, the cast has yet to be revealed.
Season 33 ofDancing with the Starspremieres Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
