STRICTLY star John Whaite has revealed his secret addiction battle, saying: “It made me want to end my life.”
John, 36, shared an emotional clip on social media and opened up to fans about his struggles.
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John shared an emotional video opening up about his secret strugglesCredit: Instagram
John confessed he turned to steroids after looking in the mirror and ‘hating what he saw’Credit: Instagram
John’s experience with steroids ‘made him want to end his life’Credit: Instagram
He said: “Steroid addiction – the truth.
“For the past 5 years I’ve let myself down, I haven’t respected my body or my mind, I’ve put body image before my own wellbeing and before time with my family.
“Steroids have made me want to end my life.
“That stops today. Right now.”
John continued: “That stops now. I choose life. I choose health. I choose love. I choose a simpler life.”
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CONFUSING TIME
Strictly’s John Whaite opens up on health struggle, saying ‘it’s unbearable’
The former Great British Bake Off winner was seen breaking down in tears as he shared the effects of steroid abuse.
He said: “I first started taking them during lockdown because I looked in the mirror and I hated what I saw.
“I tried working out, I tried dieting – I was really strict with my diet – but nothing changed, I couldn’t gain muscle.
“Looking back, there was nothing wrong with me – I had a normal body.
“The more that people acknowledged how I looked on steroids, the more I felt good about myself.
“But the reality is, steroids have shrunk my b*******. I’ve got tiny balls now, I’ve got an irregular sex drive… Sometimes it’s very high and I end up doing stupid things and don’t respect my body.”
Friends and fans rushed to send messages to John, with one writing: “Well done for speaking out, and for admitting your addiction, and for taking that first step towards recovery.”
And someone else said: “You’re a beautiful man inside and out darling be strong you’ve got this.”
John took part in the 2021 series of Strictly and was partnered with Johannes Radebe.
John says: ‘Looking back, there was nothing wrong with me – I had a normal body’Credit: Instagram
John won the Great British Bake Off in 2012Credit: BBC
In 2021 he took part in Strictly Come DancingCredit: BBC/Guy Levy
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
