Peter Andre details the heartbreaking racial abuse he experienced as a child in Australia – amid backlash over him wearing dreadlocks and adopting Jamaican accent in new film

Peter Andre has recalled the heartbreaking racial abuse he experienced as a child growing up in Australia.

The singer, 52, was born in London to Greek-Cypriot parents before emigrating Down Under aged six.

And after receiving backlash over his new Jafaican film trailer, which saw him wear dreadlocks and adopt a Jamaican accent, Peter has opened up on what it felt like to be at the centre of racial abuse.

Peter said he was once tied to a fence by blue-eyed, blonde-haired schoolkids throwing stones at his head because of his darker skin tone. 

He told The Sun: ‘I remember the bullying and the racism we suffered as kids in Australia and how tough that was.

‘But it gave me a deep understanding of what’s truly offensive and what’s not. If someone dressed up with a curly wig and a big nose, doing a Greek accent, I’d probably laugh – it depends on the intention. 

Peter Andre, 52, has recalled the heartbreaking racial abuse he experienced as a child growing up in Australia

And after receiving backlash over his new Jafaican film trailer, which saw him wear dreadlocks and adopt a Jamaican accent (pictured), Peter has opened up on what it felt like to be at the centre of racial abuse

‘But if someone said “I hate you Greeks” or made hateful comments about our skin, that’s where the line is. That’s racism.’

Peter stars as Gary Buckle in the crime-comedy, a con artist pretending to be a Jamaican gangster. 

Gary, also known as Gazza, must master Jamaican culture in 21 days in order to execute a fraud in London and Jamaica and earn the £35,000 (AUD $72,321) he needs to pay for his grandmother’s care.

With the film set to release later this year, its trailer showed Peter wearing dreadlocks and putting on a Jamaican accent – something which fans have called ‘profoundly disrespectful’. 

The trailer made fans question: ‘Did I wake up in 1998?!’

‘Peter Andre starring as the lead character of a film called JAFAICAN where he’s pretending to be a Jamaican and wearing a dreadlock wig is not something I was expecting to see in the year of our Lord 2025 but here we are…’ another said. 

‘There’s a movie coming out with Peter Andre in a dreadlock wig pretending to be Jamaican. Is this really what we’re doing in 2025?’ one more chimed in. 

‘Why on earth has YouTube just recommended me a trailer for a film starring Peter Andre about a man posing as a fake Jamaican? Did I wake up in 1998?’

The singer was born in London to Greek-Cypriot parents (pictured) before emigrating Down Under aged six 

Peter said he was once tied to a fence by blue-eyed, blonde-haired schoolkids throwing stones at his head because of his darker skin tone

The controversial trailer for Jafaican sees the Australian star donning a dreadlock wig before putting on a Jamaican accent, and fans have not reacted well to the project 

Responding to the backlash over his new role, Peter insisted the film is about ‘storying telling and paying homage, not mockery’.

Adding he ‘understands some people can genuinely feel offended’, he admitted it was never the movie’s intention.

‘We did our research, we worked with Jamaican talent, and we wanted to tell a story with heart’, he added.

Peter first posted the trailer on his Instagram earlier this month as he announced: ‘The OFFICIAL trailer for JAFAICAN has just dropped! Coming to cinemas soon….’

Revealing his upcoming promo work for the film he confirmed the world premiere will be at the Gold Coast Film Festival on May 9 and teased that news on a UK premiere would be coming soon. 

One excited fan penned: ‘Peter that looks amazing can’t wait to see this brilliant’. 

Another wrote: ‘Oh yes!!!! looking forward to this @peterandre can’t wait’.

‘I wish I could have watched this being filmed’ someone else said.