Strictly Come Dancing favourite Oti Mabuse has shared a deeply personal revelation, disclosing that her pursuit of a professional dancing career led to a painful, year-long estrangement from her family, particularly her mother.
The Dream That Divided a Family
Oti, a two-time winner of the BBC's flagship dance competition, was a guest on ITV's Loose Women when she candidly discussed the family fallout. The disagreement stemmed from her decision to abandon a future in civil engineering, for which she holds a degree, to follow her passion for dance.
"I've had situations like with my mum, leaving engineering and saying to her, 'I'm going to be a professional dancer,' we didn't talk for a year," Oti explained. She described her mother's perspective as one of concern for her safety and future, having invested in an engineering career path she viewed as more secure.
A Silence That Lasted 12 Months
The rift was profound, with communication completely breaking down for an entire year. Oti attributed this to her family's communication style during conflict. "In my family, especially when anybody is upset, we just don't talk to each other," she said. "I need space because what will come out my mouth, I can't take it back."
She emphasised her need for unwavering support, stating, "I needed her to really support me so that when I walk into a room, I know that I'm being supported by my whole family." The reconciliation finally came after what Oti described as a "Kumbaya moment," facilitated by a glass of wine and a decision to finally talk things through.
Parallels with the Beckham Feud and Lasting Lessons
Mabuse drew a comparison between her own experience and the recent, widely reported tensions between Brooklyn Beckham and his parents, David and Victoria. She highlighted the common theme of familial discord arising from personal career choices diverging from parental expectations.
This is not the first time Oti has spoken about the struggle. On BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, she revealed, "[My parents] were against it, absolutely against it. They were like, this is the worst decision ever." She confessed that working full-time as an engineer made her deeply unhappy because it prevented her from dancing, a sacrifice she was unwilling to make.
While the relationship with her mother, Dudu, is now repaired, Oti admitted that new challenges have emerged since she became a mother herself. She addressed cultural differences in communication, noting that in her African heritage, blunt honesty is common.
"If my mum says something I don't like, maybe about the baby's weight, I'm like, 'Change your language or you're not going to see her'," Oti stated, illustrating how she now uses the "tough skin" developed from past conflicts as a protective shield for her own child.
The dancer's story is a powerful testament to the personal costs often hidden behind public success, highlighting the difficult choices between familial duty and individual passion.
