Jaleel White: Tabloids Are ‘Beating Me Up’ - East Idaho News
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Jaleel White: Tabloids Are ‘Beating Me Up’

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033012 JaleelWhiteABC?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1333817175317ABC/Bob D’Amico (NEW YORK) — “Dancing With the Stars” contestant Jaleel White has been getting high marks from the show’s judges, but off the dance floor, the actor said he has become the victim of tabloid reports.

“Somehow I’ve become the paparazzi whipping boy for the show. I didn’t sign up for that,” White told ABC News. “My track record in life speaks for itself.”

White’s ex-girlfriend, who is the mother of his daughter, accused him of being verbally and physically abusive, Radar Online reported.

The 90′s sitcom star has also been dogged by claims that he got into a “heated” argument with his dancing partner Kym Johnson and the show’s producers, according to Us Weekly.

White admitted the grueling seven day a week rehearsals can cause emotions to run high.

“The thing that’s tough about this show is you have a camera and you go, you know five hours a day and every move you make other than going to the bathroom, they’re there,” he said.  “Imagine just learning how to dance and learning how to do anything you don’t know how to do and the frustration you’ll have with yourself and you know all of a sudden that becomes somebody else’s entertainment.”

White said his difficult week has proven to him he is “a hell of a lot more resilient” than he knew, and he’s channeling that drive into his tango for this Monday’s rock week theme.

“I’m doing a tango, lots of tricky footwork,” he said.

White wouldn’t say the name of the song he’s dancing to with Johnson, but gave a hint: “I am channeling my inner Mick Jagger.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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