ORE ODUBA DESCRIBES SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

Ore Oduba said he considered taking his own life during a struggle with pornography addiction that he kept private for three decades. Speaking to Jan Gerber on the Rich Powerful and Not Enough Podcast, the Strictly Come Dancing winner said he feared that telling his family would affect them. “I knew I didn’t want to,” he said of suicide. Oduba said he felt trapped between continuing to conceal his addiction and changing a life that, from the outside, appeared to have everything he wanted.

Oduba said he first encountered sexual content when he was nine and later spent thousands of pounds on pornography. He described the addiction as a constant presence throughout his life. He said he had never discussed it with friends, family or partners. Oduba had previously said he feared an admission could affect his work and personal life. He also said he knew about suicide among men of his age and had never expected to consider it himself.

Oduba said he had decided to speak publicly because he wanted to help others after years of keeping his addiction private. He said he hoped his account would draw attention to the harm he believes explicit content can cause young people. Recalling his thoughts at the time, he said: “I just don’t know how else I can break out of this.” His comments to Gerber marked the first time he had spoken publicly about considering suicide.