Johannes Radebe has revealed that it was actually Oti Mabuse who convinced him to become half of Strictly Come Dancing’s first ever all-male partnership with John Whaite in 2020.
In a landmark moment for LGBT people, John and Johannes made it all the way to the Strictly Come Dancing finale after breath-taking performance after breath-taking performance.
Former Bake Off winner John previously admitted he was reluctant to dance with another gay man, fearing the backlash would be too much.
Now Johannes has explained it was his inspiration Oti who persuaded him to say yes to the same-sex partnership.
Appearing on the Reign podcast with Josh Smith, he said: ‘I remember we were talking about it and she said to me, “uh excuse me, excuse me, who do you think is going to do this, this job? Who do you think is versatile enough to jump on this gig and slay it? Yes, it’s you and you are definitely gonna do it and for what it stands for! So you better gear up. I’m behind you and you’re doing this thing, babe.”
‘Did you see how she was crying in the finale? Her eyeliner was all down her cheeks out of sheer joy and pride.
‘It’s the most beautiful thing to know that I’ve got family around me, she’s a blessing, honestly.’
John and Johannes eventually came in second during Strictly 2020, losing out to Rose Ayling-Ellis and her partner Giovanni Pernice who were widely praised for raising enormous awareness for the Deaf community.
Johannes called the experience ‘life-changing’ , and not just for him but also so many LGBT people cheering the duo on from home.
‘You know how many messages I’ve received from people just saying the journey has helped us be better people and I’m talking about everybody, whether gay or not.
You can’t be what you can’t see and it’s important that people like us are reflected or are present or are visible, because being gay can be very lonely. You are part of the world, but you also know that your own sisters and brothers could kill you because of your sexual orientation. That is our reality in this world.
‘And if I had been able to see something like that on television, can you imagine the confidence it would’ve restored in me? I would’ve known that I’m not alone because I’ve spent most of my teenage years feeling like I’m alone, as much as I was surrounded by people, there were things that I fought secretly as a black man growing up in that society, a township environment – honey, it was rife – I think that was because there’s been a lack of representation and when this call came, I realised the importance of it, because somebody has to do it.
‘Somebody has to show up and it’s our duty to, because we need to educate people.’
John and Johannes reunited last week as they gear up for the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing live tour.
Subscribe to the podcast Reign With Josh Smith on all streaming platforms.
Johannes will be embarking on his first solo tour, Freedom, from March 16 with tickets available now.
Credit: Original article published here.You can read this post on My Celebrity Life.
Johannes Radebe has revealed that it was actually Oti Mabuse who convinced him to become half of Strictly Come Dancing’s first ever all-male partnership with John Whaite in 2020.
In a landmark moment for LGBT people, John and Johannes made it all the way to the Strictly Come Dancing finale after breath-taking performance after breath-taking performance.
Former Bake Off winner John previously admitted he was reluctant to dance with another gay man, fearing the backlash would be too much.
Now Johannes has explained it was his inspiration Oti who persuaded him to say yes to the same-sex partnership.
Appearing on the Reign podcast with Josh Smith, he said: ‘I remember we were talking about it and she said to me, “uh excuse me, excuse me, who do you think is going to do this, this job? Who do you think is versatile enough to jump on this gig and slay it? Yes, it’s you and you are definitely gonna do it and for what it stands for! So you better gear up. I’m behind you and you’re doing this thing, babe.”
‘Did you see how she was crying in the finale? Her eyeliner was all down her cheeks out of sheer joy and pride.
‘It’s the most beautiful thing to know that I’ve got family around me, she’s a blessing, honestly.’
John and Johannes eventually came in second during Strictly 2020, losing out to Rose Ayling-Ellis and her partner Giovanni Pernice who were widely praised for raising enormous awareness for the Deaf community.
Johannes called the experience ‘life-changing’ , and not just for him but also so many LGBT people cheering the duo on from home.
‘You know how many messages I’ve received from people just saying the journey has helped us be better people and I’m talking about everybody, whether gay or not.
You can’t be what you can’t see and it’s important that people like us are reflected or are present or are visible, because being gay can be very lonely. You are part of the world, but you also know that your own sisters and brothers could kill you because of your sexual orientation. That is our reality in this world.
‘And if I had been able to see something like that on television, can you imagine the confidence it would’ve restored in me? I would’ve known that I’m not alone because I’ve spent most of my teenage years feeling like I’m alone, as much as I was surrounded by people, there were things that I fought secretly as a black man growing up in that society, a township environment – honey, it was rife – I think that was because there’s been a lack of representation and when this call came, I realised the importance of it, because somebody has to do it.
‘Somebody has to show up and it’s our duty to, because we need to educate people.’
John and Johannes reunited last week as they gear up for the upcoming Strictly Come Dancing live tour.
Subscribe to the podcast Reign With Josh Smith on all streaming platforms.
Johannes will be embarking on his first solo tour, Freedom, from March 16 with tickets available now.
Credit: Original article published here.You can read this post on My Celebrity Life.
