How DWTS Derek Hough Became a “Defuser Of A Situation”
In light of Derek Hough presenting at the 4th Annual Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards Wednesday night, the Las Vegas Review Journal has a great article up on him and how he was once bullied in school. Below is a take on how he became a “defuser”….
“I would get in fights. I broke some kid’s nose. Well, he punched me first,” says Hough, who appears Wednesday at the World Mixed Martial Arts Awards at the Palms.
Hough, 26, remembers that particular fight well.
“He tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around. And he punched me,” he says.
“My nose was bleeding all over the place. All this blood filled up in my hand. I turned around and threw all this blood in this kid’s face. Then I started getting on him and I broke his nose.”
Hough was expelled, but the bully wasn’t. Hough’s parents were supportive.
“My mom was like, ‘Damn right, you fight back if somebody touches you.’ ”
His dad took a different approach and advised him to “just work it out.”
“And that’s how I am in general — I’m a defuser of a situation,” Hough says.
Doesn’t it break your heart to know how several of the dancers were bullied when they were kids just because they danced? 
Be sure to read the full story here. Derek also talks of how he got into Martial Arts and more.
Thanks Vogue!
I’m so proud of Derek & how he was able to get pass this situation and move on to become one of the most amazing dancers and choreographers, and yeah one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive-Woohoo! He is definitely one that diffuses situations and is pretty much a peace maker.
After reading that article, I can see why Derek has such a strong love for London and his friends there.
I think it’s really cool that he’s a presenter at WMMA’s because he is totally a fan.
I can totally see Derek be a part of this MMA event, but Cheryl? What this event has to do with her? She knows nothing about these fighters!
Go Derek!!! Yeah, punch that idiot bully back!!!!!
Found out some new things with this article. It is sad that boys ‘can’t’ be dancers as they are growing up, but girls can be basketball players, soccer players, even wrestlers. I knew Derek wouldn’t take sh*t from those bullies and I am glad that deep down he has a toughness to him because he sure does get a lot of hateful comments from people jealous of him.
As we can see from that AT &T Spotlight Dance from the Gold School, this kind of mentality towards young male dancers is still happening today unfortunately. But I think Derek is an inspiration for all young male dancers today because he’s doing the ballroom/latin stuff in front of millions of people each week.. It’s not like it’s hip-hop, contemporary, or tap which seems to be ‘cooler’ for a male dancer than ballroom/latin.
Anyways, I bet he could be a politician if he wanted to.. he’s so PC! Remember Billy Bush calling him ‘Senator Hough’ at the beginning of the season! LOL! Hmm, I sort of like the sound of that.. in like 30 years! lol
It’s funny, elmari, but from things he’s said in the past I kinda got the feeling that he beat the crap out of people who tried to bully him in school. That will certainly teach them to stereotype – cute little blond boy?? Don’t mess with him.
Really, who has the last laugh? He’s on TV and dating some really gorgeous women and the kids who bullied him are probably no where.
Yeah, Heidi.. Didn’t Derek get kicked out of 12 schools because of fighting and then get sent to London? I’ve also heard/read that he always fought back and I also think I’ve read that Julianne got in on a few fights and actually fought with Derek… =P I think because Derek is such a peacekeeper now ( I guess that comes from his Dad), people might not think he would be like that when he was younger. I think he has said he’s not really a confrontational person… now.
Oh yeah, dancing is what got him to where he is today.. I bet those bullies would have gotten into dancing also if they knew what kind of life Derek has now!
I don’t know if it was 12 schools, but it was a few. He said that in one radio interview way back during the last tour. Always getting into fights. I think he got it out of his system and learned from it.