DWTS' Derek Hough Touches Fan With Powerful Message About Being Bulliedoriginally appeared onParade. In anemotional Instagram post,Dancing With the Starspro-turned-judgeDerek Houghopened up about getting bullied as a child because he loved to dance and how it took him a long time to realize that he is "enough." It started because Hough said that people often ask him what advice he would give to his younger self. "Honestly, it's a question that makes me pause and feel pretty deeply. When I was that kid, getting bullied, being scared, feeling out of place just because I loved to dance, I was just a frightened little boy who felt so small sometimes," writes Hough. RELATED: DWTS Family Sends Love to Daniella Karagach & Pasha Pashkov "And if I could sit down with him now, I'd tell him something I've learned the long way around: that the power other people seem to have over you is really just a disguise for their own weakness." Hough goes on to say that when you feel like you are not enough, when you "feel unworthy or afraid," those moments "are actually shaping you into the person you're meant to become." "[Those moments are] building your strength, your resilience, and they're leading you to a future where you stand on stage doing what you love for thousands, even millions of people," writes the professional dancer. RELATED: Tom Bergeron Has Talked to DWTS About Returning For Season 34 "So to that little boy, and to anyone out there who needs to hear it: you are enough. And one day, the very thing that made you feel different will be your superpower. Keep going. Everything is going to be okay. I'm proud of you, and I love you." In the comments, Hough's younger sister andDancing With the Starspro-turned-hostJulianne Houghsimply wrote, "I'm not ok 🥹❤️," and Hough's wife (and mother-to-be)Hayley Erbertsimply added, "My heart 🥹♥️." FormerDancing With the StarsproKeo Motsepewrote, "❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️." RELATED: Former DWTS Host Tom Bergeron Makes Rare Comment About Len Goodman's Passing And one fan, who has a son who dances, wrote a powerful response to Hough's post: "Thank you for sharing your story. I just read it to my son. He is a dancer and has faced challenges with kids at school who aren't accepting of male dancers, as well as comments from some female dancers who say the only reason he earns awards is because he's a male. "Today, he saw on social media that some moms were complaining their daughters didn't get an award because they were up against a male. It's heartbreaking, but reading your story gave him comfort and encouragement. I truly appreciate that I was able to share it with him," wrote the fan. 🪩SIGN UP for our Dancing with the Stars newsletter to get access to exclusive news, interviews, songs, recaps & more🪩 DWTS' Derek Hough Touches Fan With Powerful Message About Being Bulliedfirst appeared on Parade on Aug 11, 2025 This story was originally reported byParadeon Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared.