Television presenter Ore Oduba has shared a powerful message of self-acceptance, stating he can now 'fully accept' himself after confronting the shame of a 30-year addiction to pornography. The Strictly Come Dancing champion, 40, reflected on a turbulent year marked by the breakdown of his marriage and the tragic suicide of his sister, Lola.
A Life-Changing Conversation
In a candid Instagram post on Monday, Oduba spoke about a transformative discussion on his We Need To Talk podcast with life coach Paul C Brunson from Celebs Go Dating. It was during this conversation that he publicly revealed his long-standing struggle. Oduba wrote that he had initially feared this honesty would damage his career and relationships, but found the opposite to be true.
'The day I talked about my addiction it strengthened everything I hold dear,' he stated. He described the experience as forging solidarity and community, and pushing him into a position where he realised his voice mattered.
Finding Love After Loss
Oduba's revelation comes after an intensely difficult period. His sister, Lola, a former Guardian journalist and chef, died by suicide in April. In a heartbreaking farewell letter, she had revealed she had begun to identify as non-binary. Furthermore, Oduba's nine-year marriage to wife Portia ended in October last year. The former couple, who share two young children, met at Loughborough University in 2010.
Despite this 'devastating loss', Oduba wrote of discovering 'an abundance of love in my life like nothing I felt before.' He credited this to the act of no longer hiding, allowing others to accept him for who he truly is, 'checkered past and all.'
A Warning and a Hope for the Future
Oduba first encountered pornography at the age of nine, an exposure that spiralled into a lifelong addiction. 'Shame kept me silent for 30 years. It took me 30 years, two deaths, and a divorce to finally go: here’s what’s happening,' he explained on the podcast.
He said his motivation for speaking out now is to highlight the dangers children face from accessing explicit material online. 'This is me putting my life as it is on the line, to save my children and to guide anybody else's children,' he said emotionally.
Looking ahead to 2026, Oduba expressed a hope for a year of 'acceptance, of no shame and no fear.' He urged compassion for those who may be struggling in unseen ways. His message concluded with gratitude for the support he has received and an optimistic look to the future: 'Can’t wait to turn the page on 2026 with everything I’ve learnt.'
Support for those struggling with similar issues can be found at The Naked Truth Project.
