‘I WAS BEATEN TO A PULP!
Pete’s shock reveal that he was badly bullied
Pete was born in London and moved to Queensland, Australia, with his family when he was 10. But the star revealed that for him and his brothers, it was anything but a dream new life. Speaking candidly for the first time on the topic, Pete admitted that he was severely bullied. ‘When I moved to the Gold Coast, nearly 30 years ago, there were no Greeks, no Italians, no Lebanese – we stood out so much. And we would get beaten to a pulp, the teachers used to call us all sorts of things, and when you get it from the teachers you know you’ve got nowhere to run. ‘At school it was because of our race and nationality, that sort of thing.’ And horribly for Pete, it didn’t stop there. After finding success in Australia in the early 90s, he still faced terrifying altercations. Remembering back to a time in a Sydney nightclub, he said, ‘This guy said, ‘Who do you think you are?’ He grabbed me and threw me into this bathroom, put a knife to my throat, I’ll never forget that moment. It was 20 years ago and I’ve never been to a Sydney club since. It scared me that much that even in England I don’t go to nightclubs. I know it sounds ridiculous, I’m a 43-year-old man. However, Pete admits that his tough beginning has helped him become the man he is today. ‘It [bullying] completely scars you, and that’s why when people say to me now, ‘Why are you so nice to people?’ And I say, ‘You don’t understand, to be accepted is the most incredible feeling.’’ ◆
‘I’ll never forget that moment’