Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma… after sexual abuse aged 4

Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4

As a compassionate observer, it is heartening to see Julianne Hough open up about her past experiences and share her journey towards healing. Her resilience and courage in speaking out about childhood abuse are commendable, especially given the sensitive nature of the topic. It takes great strength to confront one’s past and use it as a catalyst for growth and change.


Julianne Hough stated that her former spouse, Brooks Laich, played a significant role in helping her overcome her childhood traumas during the span of their five-year union.

The professional dancer from Dancing With The Stars, aged 36, shared that she had been sexually abused at the age of four. She recently discussed how the ice hockey player, also 41, offered her an opportunity to rekindle a connection with her childhood self.

During a recent appearance on the Jamie Kern Lima Show, the beauty stated, ‘What did I need at 10?’

I was yearning for security and someone who could serve as a mentor or guiding presence, much like what a father might offer.

Her relationship with Laich had given her a ‘little girl feeling’ as well as ‘stability and [a] stable man to be there.’

Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4

Julianne clarified that she was able to begin the healing process since Brooks gave her an exceptionally lovely base to grow up as a young girl.

As I embarked on this voyage, I found myself evolving into a more feminine person. Simultaneously, I began to pay closer attention to my own voice, not the childlike voice that had been guiding me unconsciously when I was younger.

She continued, ‘And as that was happening, things started changing and my mindset. Like, what do I believe in, not just what I’ve either been taught, told or you know, had to do to get where I’m at today.’ 

During her recovery process, spanning from age 10 up to adulthood, Hough started to adapt, transform, and ponder over the beliefs she held.

The Footloose actress and Laich tied the knot in 2017 after they became engaged in 2015.

2020 saw the announcement of their separation, and the divorce was finalized in 2022.

In a recent chat on the Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepard, I delved deeper into the dissolution of my marriage to Brooks, shedding light on the complexities and challenges we faced in our relationship.

Over the past several years, his professional journey has been quite challenging. He sustained injuries and was even moved to another team before the one he’d served nearly a dozen years with ultimately clinched the Stanley Cup. It’s truly heart-wrenching; I can’t help but empathize deeply with him.

Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4
Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4

In regards to the year 2017, Hough mentioned, “That’s when we got married, and that’s also when things began to fall apart for us a bit.”

She mentioned that it felt wrong, acknowledging that fully accepting this can be challenging. She expressed that their relationship and marriage seemed perfect, and she believes that its conclusion is also appropriate.

‘Although we’re now left with regrets since things didn’t turn out as planned, I believe our immaturity might have been a factor. At that time, he was moving towards contraction while I was heading towards expansion. It seems we were unable to connect during that phase.’

Despite their acceptance of the separation, Hough and Laich remain sad that things didn’t turn out as they had hoped. He possesses a heart so vast and beautiful, it has been an honor to be in his company.

In 2019, they parted ways, with the formal announcement of their separation coming a year later. Just ten days after their separation, Julianne’s beloved dogs unfortunately met a tragic end when they were attacked by coyotes.

‘It was a gradual unwinding. All the knowledge and structures I had built up for my management and safety were being challenged…’ (This version maintains the original meaning but is more natural and easier to read.)

In a sense, I was married to an individual who felt like a paternal influence to me. As both of us underwent transformations, it led to significant upheavals in my life.

After her marriage ended, Julianna chose to maintain a hopeful outlook, saying, “Now, I get to embark on a fresh journey where I can intentionally build and live a life that truly reflects who I am at my core.”

Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4

Back on an earlier installment of the Jamie Kern Lima Show, I, as a devoted fan, learned that Hough had endured a horrific ordeal when she was just four. A reprehensible neighbor took advantage and abused her, an experience that remains deeply etched in my mind.

She mentioned that her initial encounter occurred around the age of four. This event took place within our community’s cul-de-sac, instigated by one of our neighbors.

I’ve never expressed that aloud during an interview with anyone before. It was quite baffling, as you can imagine, given my background in the Mormon community where everything is expected to be flawless.

She stated, “There weren’t significant consequences for what transpired, and interestingly, I’m not alone in my family who has experienced similar events. This, in turn, made it quite difficult to accept, as it seemed no one took any action.”

She did not tell her parents about the abuse until ‘later on’ as she had forgotten ‘about it.’

She mentioned other events from her childhood later on, and around the age of 15, she began disclosing these experiences. However, it wasn’t until she delved deeper into this line of work recently that she remembered the incident with the neighbor at the age of 4. This is what she shared.

She explained, “I believe my mind suppressed memories from birth until age 10 due to a complete detachment from the fact that such events occurred.”

Regarding discussing the abuse with her parents, she mentioned: “Even when a child and a parent share the same situation, they often perceive it differently.”

Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4

In simpler terms, I had my set of experiences, and those were shaped by what happened to me personally. Similarly, my parents have their unique experiences that carry their own guilt and shame from different aspects of their lives. Due to this, it’s challenging for them to link our situations together and fully comprehend mine because they are also dealing with their personal experiences at the same time.

At that moment, they regretted not being able to accomplish it, but over multiple discussions, they expressed, “Don’t we understand each other better now? Aren’t we on the same wavelength? I’m not accusing you, but I really needed more support then.”

As a 15-year-old, I casually mentioned and moved past certain events, much like I knew how to do at that time. To be honest, I was eager to let go of those situations too. However, as I’ve grown and healed, I find myself yearning to delve deeper into that experience.

During the interview, she additionally mentioned this: “Given my youth at the time, and these encounters being my initial experiences – whether they were physical, emotional, or sexual – the misuse of power towards someone in a vulnerable position instantly establishes a pattern that others can wield power as well.”

Hough previously revealed she had been abused as a child.

In a 2013 conversation with Cosmopolitan, she disclosed that she experienced abuse when she was 10 years old, following her relocation to London to pursue dance education at the Italia Conti Academy of the Arts alongside her brother, Derek.

The new revelation came as Hough promotes her newly released novel, Everything We Never Knew.

In a recent interview on Good Morning America, Hough discussed her first novel, jointly written with Ellen Goodlett, which centers around a woman who appears to have it all – an ideal life, a loving husband, a blissful marriage, and a successful career.

Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4
Julianne Hough says ex-husband Brooks Laich healed her childhood trauma... after sexual abuse aged 4

According to the author, the protagonist, Lexi Cole, encounters some extraordinary events that potentially jeopardize her connections with others.

On her voyage towards healing, she believes she’ll mend others, yet it’s essential to recognize that no one can truly heal another; the path to healing oneself must be embarked upon first.

When asked about the determination behind Julianne’s journey from struggling to survive and protect herself to her current position, Hough, a former Mormon who publicly identified as bisexual in 2019, responded by saying, “This book is equally about learning to trust oneself.”

‘I believe we often feel overwhelmed by the noise of fitting in, not belonging, and the need to adapt. However, learning to trust oneself and find inner peace is crucial. That’s what I discovered when dedicating this to my younger self.’

Read More

2024-08-27 22:20

Previous post Charlotte Dawson cradles her baby bump as she is seen for the first time since announcing she is expecting a third child amid fiancé Matthew Sarsfield’s sexting scandal