July 13, (THEWILL) – Prince William has praised Dele Alli as “brave and inspirational” for speaking out about his mental health struggles after the footballer revealed in an emotional interview that he was sexually abused as a child.
Alli also spoke about his struggles with alcohol, and sleeping pill addiction, as THEWILL reported earlier, and how he addressed his mental health issues by spending six weeks in a rehab clinic. Alli had contemplated retiring three years ago before leaving Tottenham Hotspur for Everton in 2022.
In a personal tweet, Prince William wrote: “Brave and inspirational @dele_official. Discussing mental health is not a sign of weakness. Let’s keep the conversation going. We’re all with you and we wish you the very best. W.”
Alli’s bravery in speaking out has also been applauded by others, including the NSPCC and Everton. The NSPCC praised Alli’s courage and voiced the hope that his bravery would encourage others in a similar position to seek help. A spokesperson for the NSPCC said that speaking out on sexual abuse can be daunting for survivors and that the impact of child sexual abuse can be devastating and continue into adulthood.
Alli is currently back at Goodison Park after making just 13 appearances for Everton before joining Besiktas on loan last season. An Everton spokesperson said that the club has supported Alli in his return to fitness and overcoming personal challenges. “Everyone at Everton respects and applauds Dele’s bravery to speak about the difficulties he has faced, as well as seek the help required,” the club shared.
