'DWTS' pro Derek Hough speaks out about being beaten, hog-tied and held at gunpoint by childhood bullies

Derek Hough revealed the painful reality behind his rise to fame, recalling a childhood marked by brutal bullying.

Hough said he spent his childhood desperately trying to fit in until dance gave him an escape and a sense of direction.

"I was kind of a scrawny little kid," he admitted during an episode of "The Bossticks." "And it's funny, as I've gotten older, I've realized that I'm pretty awkward, actually. I'm actually kind of an awkward person," Hough said, claiming the personality trait might come from his dad.