My school days were ruined by bullying and racism – even a teacher called me a racial slur, reveals Peter Andre
PETER Andre has opened up about the horrors of his school days - saying he was abused by one of his racist teachers.
The singer and West End star revealed the shocking childhood bullying that came from other kids and also adults, admitting that it had a devastating long-term impact on him.
The 49-year-old told : "My experiences at school were of a lot of bullying and a lot of racism.
"And the racism we suffered in Australia was not particularly because we were Greek – we could have been from anywhere – it’s because there were no ethnic families there and we stood out.
"I felt so out of place and it even came from the teachers. I went to tell the teacher what was going on and he said, ‘(a racial slur) don’t sit in my classroom, they face the wall.’
"It scars you. Of course it does."
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Peter said he strived to be accepted but was left feeling anxious as he tried to fit in - even straoff his naturally curly hair.
He added: "I was a lucky guy.
"Yes, I got bad anxiety later on in life and had a lot of problems but instead of making me angry, it made me focus."
He said he needed therapy and his career has helped him to make peace with his past, adding: "It was the two of them together. It worked, it really did. But it took years."
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Pete last year revealed that many of his bullies got in touch when he found fame and apologised for their behaviour.
He said on ITV daytime show Lorraine: "Years later, a lot of those people have apologised and they're not like that now at all.
"But when you are bullied, even if you get through it like I did, certain things scar you for life.
"Bullying is a horrible thing and so many kids are going through it.
"It's scarred me to the point that even now at 47, my hair is naturally curly but I won't have it curly, I always straighten it."