Junior Andre has opened up about a painful childhood moment that, he says, changed the course of his life — revealing his mother Katie Price once told him he simply wasn’t good enough to become a professional footballer.
Now aged 20, Junior admitted he had dreamed of making it big on the pitch and had even been scouted by top clubs including Millwall, Brighton and Chelsea. But everything shifted after a blunt assessment from his mum.
Speaking on the Not My Bagg podcast, he recalled the moment that stuck with him. He said his mum watched him play and told him, “Junior, let’s be real, you’re not gonna be a footballer. You’re not good enough. Don’t worry, you’re gonna be an entertainer.” Reflecting on it now, Junior joked that she had “crushed” his dreams — but acknowledged her words had a lasting impact.
Despite the harsh delivery, Junior has since carved out a different path — one that aligns with his famous father Peter Andre. He is now pursuing a career in both music and acting, recently making his acting debut in the film Finding My Voice, which also stars his dad and EastEnders actress Michelle Ryan.
Looking back, Junior admitted there may have been some truth to his mum’s comments. He said he played regularly in a Saturday league and loved football growing up, but conceded he was “never actually really that good” and described himself as “just above average.”
Determined to succeed on his own terms, Junior also revealed he stepped away from the spotlight to work a regular job while sorting out issues with his record label. He explained he worked full-time for Transport for London, taking on physically demanding night shifts — lifting, cutting, filing and painting — to fund his music career.
He said balancing a nine-to-five routine alongside chasing his dreams wasn’t easy, but it gave him independence and drive.
His sister Princess Andre praised his work ethic, saying she was incredibly proud of him. She revealed his last two singles had both reached number one, adding that despite that success, he continued working through the night to remain self-sufficient.
The siblings also shared a heartfelt moment discussing their older brother Harvey, who lives with multiple health conditions including Prader-Willi Syndrome, autism and septo-optic dysplasia. Junior described Harvey as “the best person” and said it was heartbreaking to see him targeted by cruel online trolls.
He explained that while Harvey may not read the abuse, it deeply affects those around him, adding that his brother is surrounded by love and that “love is all he knows.”
