Michael Sam’s emotional rumba with Peta last night on Dancing with the Stars left the NFL free agent in tears – because the dance, which was set to Kinky Boots ballad “Not My Father’s Son”, was about his father who refuses to accept him because he’s gay.

Said Sam after the competition in an interview with Access Hollywood:

“I haven’t talked to my father since February 2014. I said this in a previous interview. Time will heal all wounds, and I know eventually I probably can forgive my father and speak to him…I know that deep down he loves me. I just need to be patient.”

Watch the performance, elimination, and interview, AFTER THE JUMP…

[[SPOILERS AHEAD]]

The elimination:

Sam reacts to elimination: