Note: The following article contains discussion of themes including suicidal ideation and substance abuse.
Former Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off star John Whaite has opened up on his anabolic steroid addiction, detailing the impact it has had on its mental health.
The 2012 Bake Off winner took to Instagram to share “the truth” about his addiction, explaining he has been taking unprescribed steroids for the past five years.
“For the past 5 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,” he wrote.
“Steroids have made me want to end my life. That stops today. Right now,” he added.
Guy Levy//BBC
Whaite chose to come clean about struggling with addiction in the hope to help “young lads” who may be struggling with their body image and may turn to steroids. Anabolic steroids are “prescription-only medicines that are sometimes taken without medical advice to increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance” (via NHS).
“I hope that in sharing this harsh truth, young lads will think very carefully about how they treat their bodies,” he continued. “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.”
Speaking up about what prompted him to try steroids, Whaite said: “I tried working out, 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 I wasn’t happy with. Looking back, there was nothing wrong with me. I had a normal body,” he added.
While he noted that he’s always “had the love and support of people who loved me for who I was, not for what I looked like,” he also pointed out how his new physique landed him more TV work which, in turn, led to greater self-confidence.
“When I got the job for Strictly, because I was so muscular, my codename they had for me was Hercules,” he explained. “The more that people acknowledged how I looked on steroids, the more I felt good about myself.”
Channel 4
Whaite also touched upon having an OnlyFans account, which he announced in February this year, acknowledging that steroids may have played a role in him opening his page.
“I don’t know if I would have done OnlyFans if it weren’t for the complete and utter, one, elevated horniness that the steroids give you at times, but two, they also give you such an inflated ego, they give you such a narcissism,” he said.
The TV chef admitted being “tired of being tethered to this solution” and said he would see a doctor “at some point”.
“This decision that I made, just to look a certain way, has taken so much from me. I’m responsible for this; it was my choice,” he concluded. “I’m not being a victim here. I’m a man and I have to deal with the consequences of my actions.”
Whaite has often been candid about his mental health, previously sharing his experience living with ADHD and having struggled with depression and bulimia in the past.
We encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Information about how to access support is available via the NHS, and organisations who can offer help include Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393.
Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov or the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
For more on drug addiction and dependency, including information and support, please visit FRANK or Action on Addiction.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
