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John Whaite has opened up his addiction struggle with anabolic steroids
Former Strictly Come Dancing star John Whaite broke down in tears as he opened up on his addiction struggles. The 36-year-old shot to stardom when he won the Great British Bake Off in 2012 and went on to compete on the BBC contest in 2021.
John was a part of the first ever male same sex pairing with Johannes Radebe and they went on to reach the final of the show. The TV personality regularly keeps people updated with his life on his social media channels and has opened up today on his struggle with anabolic steroids. In a clip shared with his followers, he captioned the post: “Steroid addiction – the truth.
“For the past five years: I’ve let myself down, I haven’t respected my body or my mind, I’ve put body image before my own wellbeing and before time with my family. That stops today. Right now. I hope that in sharing this harsh truth, young lads will think very carefully about how they treat their bodies.
“Steroids have made me want to end my life. That stops now. I choose life. I choose health. I choose love. I choose a simpler life.” The NHS has issued advice on Anabolic steroid misuse as it said: “Anabolic steroids are prescription-only medicines that are sometimes taken without medical advice to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance.”
John explained he purchased the steroid on the black market. He was visibly emotional in the clip, as he said: “I’m doing this for accountability and integrity. But also because I think this is a problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in gay culture.
“Not just gay culture, but just in men. And that is a problem with anabolic steroids. I’ve been taking anabolic steroids illegally for five years now. And these things have really messed with my life. I first started taking them during lockdown because I looked in the mirror.
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“As someone who has got body dysmorphia, and believe me I have, I looked in the mirror and I absolutely hated what I saw. I tried working out and I tried dieting. I was really strict with myself and my diet, but nothing changed. I couldn’t gain muscle.
“I had layers of fat that I wasn’t happy with. Looking back, there was nothing wrong with me. I had a normal body. Most importantly, I had the love and support of people who loved me for who I was, and not what I looked like.
“But I continued with my steadfast decision to take steroids and to take testosterone. It led to some aesthetically very good results. I was getting noticed more for television. When I got the job for Strictly because I was so muscular, the code name they had for me was Hercules.
“The more that people acknowledged how I looked on steroids, the more I felt good about myself and felt valid.” However, John opened up on the drastic effect the misuse has taken on his body.
He said: “But the reality is steroids have shrunk my b*****s. I’ve got tiny b***s now. There’s your headline. I’ve got tiny b***s, I’ve got an irregulated sex drive. Sometimes it’s very high and I end up doing stupid things when I don’t respect my body. Sometimes it’s very low.”
John explained he was motivated to speak out about it after his 15-year-old nephew referenced a type of anabolic steroid, Trenbolone. He said: “Sorry, I’m very emotional about this because it’s something I’ve been trying to sort out in my head for a long time.
He added: “It occurred to me that a lot of people who have great bodies on Instagram and who are selling fitness programmes. A lot of those people, you just look at them and you can see they’re on steroids.
“It’s almost impossible to have a body like that unless you have a really strict coach. I want to share this for accountability for myself, but primarily because I am genuinely worried for the young lads who are growing up and seeing these unrealistic physiques on Instagram. I’m genuinely concerned for those boys, who are growing up and can f**k up their beautiful bodies. It’s going to be difficult for me because I don’t have a doctor who can help me with this.
“I could probably get in touch with my GP, but I don’t want to be a burden on the NHS because this was a stupid decision of my own. I’ve been on testosterone now for two years straight. Before I would do cycles of eight weeks/twelve weeks.
“You come off it for a similar amount of time. I’ve been so addicted to how I’ve looked that I’ve not come off steroids for two years straight. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me now. I don’t know if this is stupid of safe but I need to do this because they’ve proliferated my ADHD and my sex drive. I don’t think I would have done OnlyFans if it wasn’t for the elevated horniness that steroids give you at times.
“The also give you such an inflated ego and a narcissism. I guess my levels will crash and I will have to go and see a doctor at some point. I’ll probably have a very low mood but I’m tired of being tethered to this solution of whatever this is in this little bottle.
“I am exhausted at having to prick this into my a**e three or four times a week. I’m exhausted of the acne, of the shrunken b***s. I’m exhausted by the obsession with my image that this proliferates.
“I’m done with putting the gym before my family and before inner peace. I don’t know what’s going to happen. This might be a stupid decision on my part, so please don’t follow my lead. If you know a young lad, who is toying with the idea of using steroids. Show him this message, this decision that I’ve made just to look a certain way has taken so much from me. I’m responsible for this, it was my choice and I have to deal with the consequences of my actions.
“If you know someone who thinks this might give them an extra something in life, do not do it. It will ruin everything and take more than it gives you. You’ve only got one body so please just respect it.”
People took to the comments to share messages of support after John’s candid update. Suze Morrison said: “Oh John, I respect you so much, hugest hugs.”
Felipe Chavez added: “Sending you so much love, comfort and peace” @emxqiss added: “You are loved, John. Most importantly, by yourself. Let others who love you hold you close, and remind you that you’re worthy of that love.”
