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Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Siobhan O'Connor

Ireland AM star opens up about 'mental torture' of bullying hell at school for being gay

Ireland AM Torture Paul Ryder Ireland

Ireland AM presenter Paul Ryder has told how homophobic bullying forced him to quit school.

The Ringmasters Drag Race host, 35, revealed he was branded a “joke act” auditioning for X Factor before rising to fame on Ireland’s Got Talent. Dubliner Paul left secondary school as he couldn’t take the “mental torture” of being picked on for being different.

He said: “I suffered so much at school I had to leave in the middle of fifth year as the bullying got so bad. I never needed my Leaving [Cert], it hasn’t come up.

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