Joe Wicks sobbed as he recalled his childhood dealing with his parent's mental health issues and addiction while remembering an "amazing" school student when visiting a primary school
When speaking about visiting a primary school in Harlem, Joe broke down in tears as he recalled seeing the "sadness" in the young boy's eyes.
The fitness and lifestyle guru couldn't believe this child with the 'hardest home life you can possibly imagine', smiled and was able to connect with him.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Joe shared his feelings about when he visited a primary school and how he never knew why he was the "naughty" child.
As a child he was regularly 'distracted and disruptive' and he jumped from sport to sport he wanted to do anything that would keep him moving.
But now he admits it was his way of dealing with his home life. Joe's mother had OCD and suffered from mental health issues and his dad struggled with addiction.
He said: "Like, 'Look at me', because no one was asking what was going on and no one knows what has happened, why was I the naughty kid?
"Why was I pulled out of class and put in isolation? No one said, 'What is going on? What's happening at home?' Because people think you have a normal home life."
He spoke about the impact that a young boy he met when visiting a primary school in Harlem, New York had on him and as he told the story he broke down in tears.
Joe said: "There are all these kids with smiles, and some are withdrawn, and I went to a school in Harlem, New York and same thing, really deprived area, and they had some of the toughest home lives.
"One of these little boys - hang on a second... It is a lovely story, but it is going to get me upset," he exclaimed, getting emotional.
Wiping away his tears, Joe added: "He was this little boy who stood there the whole time, and you can see he was really cautious, and as the exercise started, he really started to get into it.
"We played Encanto, and he started to sing along, and I just saw his face change, then afterwards he came up to me and was the loveliest little boy.
"His teacher said, 'Joe, you don't understand we have never seen him like that, this is the kid with the hardest home life you can possibly imagine'.
"The most unbelievable things he has experienced, and he is feeling all of that and that moment where you connect with someone through exercise and fitness.
"So yeah, I can see that in some kids and what they must be experiencing at home, and I just love that story because they said he had never been so excited and calm to be around someone.
"Because normally he is the angry one fighting and smashing things like I was, so it is a beautiful story."
