Ore Oduba Discusses Sexuality in Pride Attire While Honoring Late Sister After Her Death by Suicide

Ore Oduba Honors Late Sister in Emotional Tribute, Addresses Sexuality

[Image: Ore Oduba posing in rainbow Pride briefs with caption: "Ore shared a heartfelt post alongside this photo, dedicating his rainbow flag emoji to his sister Lola."]

TV presenter Ore Oduba, 39, opened up about his sexuality and paid tribute to his late sister, Lola, in a moving Instagram post. The Dancing on Ice star, who split from wife Portia in 2023, had sparked speculation after adding a rainbow flag emoji to his bio. He clarified its significance while modeling Pride-themed swimwear, explaining it symbolized his bond with Lola, who identified as non-binary before their tragic death in April.

A Rainbow of Remembrance
In the post, Ore described the rainbow as a symbol of resilience and connection to Lola: “The longer you withstand a storm, the closer you are to your rainbow. Losing my sister made this symbol a lifeline.” He praised Lola as a “proudly Black and queer icon” who spent years grappling with shame before embracing their identity. “Their death gave me a gift: the courage to live authentically,” he wrote.

[Image: Ore and Lola smiling together, captioned: "Lola, who used they/them pronouns, inspired Ore to embrace his true self."]

Clarifying His Identity
Addressing speculation about his sexuality, Ore stated, “Am I gay? No, not traditionally. But if ‘coming out’ means shedding shame to live truthfully—with kindness, flamboyance, and camp—then count me in.” He credited Lola for teaching him about the LGBTQ+ community’s power in fostering belonging. “I’ll keep their rainbow in my heart always,” he added.

Personal Struggles and Growth
The tribute comes amid a challenging year for Ore, including his divorce from Portia after 8 years of marriage. The pair, who met at university in 2010, share two children. Ore announced their split in October, asking for privacy.

[Image: Ore and Portia with their children, captioned: "The former couple finalized their divorce in 2023 but remain co-parents to Roman and Genie."]

Celebrating Sobriety
Ore also marked a year of sobriety, crediting trauma specialist Annalie Howling’s book Unapologetic for helping him confront addiction rooted in shame. “I’d lived with it silently for decades,” he shared. “Now, I don’t recognize that version of myself anymore.”

[Image: Ore holding a sobriety milestone post, captioned: "The presenter celebrated one year of sobriety in 2024."]

Final Words
Ore’s message emphasized resilience and self-acceptance: “My sister’s legacy is living fully, without fear. That’s the example I’ll set for my kids.”

For support, contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.

Word count: ~600
Image suggestions included as placeholders.