Julianne Hough Says “Nobody Did Anything” When She Was Sexually Abused by Neighbor at Age 4

Julianne Hough Says “Nobody Did Anything” When She Was Sexually Abused by Neighbor at Age 4

As a long-time admirer of Julianne Hough‘s talent and grace, it was heartbreaking to learn about the traumatic experiences she endured as a child. It takes immense courage to share such personal stories, especially when they involve abuse and betrayal. I respect Julianne for her vulnerability in speaking out and for using her platform to raise awareness about childhood trauma.


Julianne Hough openly discusses the hardships and mistreatment she experienced in her childhood, along with her journey towards healing from these past wounds.

On Thursday’s episode of The Jamie Kern Lima Show, the talented performer candidly discussed personal matters. She disclosed that she experienced sexual abuse for the first time when she was approximately 4 years old. Hough explained that her abuser was a neighbor who resided in the same Utah cul-de-sac as her family.

In other interviews I’ve done before, I’ve never openly discussed this matter aloud. However, that period in my life was incredibly perplexing due to the Mormon culture I was raised in, which emphasizes perfection and outward appearances. Unfortunately, there weren’t many consequences for what transpired during that time.

“Moreover, it’s important to note that I wasn’t alone in experiencing such situations within my family. It was particularly difficult to accept and process this fact,” she went on to say. “Regrettably, no one offered assistance.”

The Dancing with the Stars co-host revealed that she didn’t disclose the details of a particular event from her past to her parents until much later in life because she had “forgotten” about it. Yet, she did share other experiences that occurred during her childhood at a later stage, when she was a teenager.

“Hough mentioned that he didn’t recall his neighbor-related issue until recently, while engaging in this current work over the past few years. He believes that he suppressed memories of it from birth up to age ten, as a way of dissociating himself entirely from the idea that such an event ever occurred.”

Towards the end of the program, the actress from “Safe Haven” shared with host Jamie Kern Lima that her parents have cut ties with her abuser and swiftly relocated from their neighborhood once they became aware of the incident.

Hough shared how she explained the strange incident to her mother when she came home with her clothes inside out as a child. “She asked, ‘What happened?'” Hough said she replied. “I couldn’t describe it any other way because we weren’t allowed soda as kids. But I remember tasting something and feeling like I had a bottle of Sprite pressed between my legs.”

Later on, I admitted that my mom really lost her cool and that’s when we relocated. “I suppose my mom took the necessary steps,” I confessed, struggling to keep the tears at bay. “She was desperate to move and escape. She didn’t want to confront it, she didn’t want to discuss it, but she did want to get us out of there.”

In her own words, the actress from ‘Footloose’ revealed that other members of her family experienced similar forms of abuse during their upbringing. Back in 2013, she openly discussed her traumatic experiences with ‘Cosmopolitan’, stating that at age 10, while attending a dance academy in London with her brother Derek Hough, she was subjected to mental, physical, and all forms of abuse. This unfortunate incident made her wary of trusting others.

“Hough stated to Lima that those who transgressed against my sister, brother or myself, went unpunished as we didn’t speak up. Instead, we changed direction and moved on – which is beneficial, as it means escaping an uncomfortable situation. However, this pattern of constantly moving on also serves as a reminder for me.”

She mentioned, “That’s something I’ve never spoken about earlier. In truth, I experienced a significant realization during that moment – realizing that my mother indeed gave her best.”

During their discussion, Hough mentioned that her parents confessed feelings of guilt when they discovered the mistreatment she experienced as a teenager. “Initially,” she added, “they might not have known how to react and felt powerless in the situation too.” She continued, “I believe now, after our talks, they’ve acknowledged their own feelings of incapacity and helplessness at the time.”

During her healing process, Hough eventually re-established a connection with her parents, coinciding with her divorce from Brooks Laich in 2020.

“She stated that she resumed her role as a child in their relationship, allowing them to care for her, which proved to be the most therapeutic period for both parties.”

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2024-08-18 05:24