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Giovanni Pernice has defined why he bought “annoyed” with Amanda Abbington within the Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal room.
The results of the BBC’s six-month investigation into the Italian dancer’s behind-the-scene behaviour was introduced on Monday (30 September), with six of Abbington’s complaints upheld by the company. The actor, who was coupled with Pernice on final yr’s collection, acquired an official apology.
Sherlock star Abbington’s complaints of verbal bullying and harassment had been upheld, whereas the BBC’s findings concluded that Pernice was not bodily aggressive to his celeb accomplice, which the dancer declared a victory.
A spokesperson mentioned that Pernice was happy” the report “has not discovered any proof of threatening or abusive behaviour”, including: “Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations out to the BBC haven’t been upheld.”
Shortly after, Pernice spoke candidly concerning the consequence on Instagram, telling his followers: “It’s over. It’s completed. Seven months of studying on a regular basis issues within the newspaper and never be capable of reply as a result of I needed to maintain the confidentiality and privateness of the assessment was a tough time. It was tough as a result of, you understand, studying stuff that was unfaithful, wasn’t the nicest time of my life, let’s be trustworthy.”
He then make clear what went down within the rehearsal room, explaining why he typically will get annoyed with the celebrities he’s partnered with
“At this time is a day once we can all replicate as a result of I respect that dancing is a really tough factor to do. It’s a sport, it’s one thing that’s tough in each potential approach and generally you get annoyed as a instructor, as a dancer, as a performer.
“However the one purpose why you get annoyed is since you care about what you do.”
He continued: “You recognize, as an expert, as a instructor, I wish to get the very best out of my accomplice and generally I do get annoyed. I feel all people around the globe does the identical factor – it’s known as being skilled and I like, I like doing that.
He mentioned that “even now” he “will get annoyed” with Bianca Guaccero, the actor and singer he’s coupled with on the Italian model of Dancing with the Stars, which he joined after stepping away from Strictly.
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“I feel it’s a standard factor however then you definately get out the very best and the outcomes come ahead,” he mentioned.
Saying the results of the investigation on Monday (30 September), the BBC mentioned: “We’ve assessed the complaints and now we have upheld some, however not all, of the complaints made. Strictly Come Dancing is a household present and we rightly anticipate very excessive requirements. Whereas competitors may be robust, rigorous and demanding, we wish the present to finally be a joyous and transformative expertise. It’s a nice disgrace if this hasn’t been the case for everybody who has appeared on the present.
“We wish to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming ahead and participating. We all know this is able to not have been a straightforward factor to do.”
The company mentioned the findings had taken a very long time to be introduced as a result of “complicated nature” of Abbington’s complaints, including that “a rigorous and strong course of” had been carried out.
Abbington mentioned the BBC’s apology “meant loads” to her in a press release studying: “Because the BBC has indicated at present in its assertion, my resolution to come back ahead and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct in direction of me was not a straightforward factor to do.
“Within the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’. I’ve additionally acquired rape and homicide threats and a bomb menace was despatched to my administrative center. My household and youngsters have additionally been subjected to threats and intimidation.
She continued: “Regardless of this vile abuse, I’ve by no means regretted coming ahead, and at present’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my grievance. It’s not only a vindication for me, it’s a vindication for the opposite individuals who have contacted me since I made my grievance to precise considerations about their very own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. I hope those that have felt unable to talk out now will probably be extra assured that they are going to be listened to and believed.”
Abbington all of the sudden stop Strictly 5 episodes into the 2023 collection, citing medical causes. Her allegations in opposition to Pernice, whom she has branded “nasty”, first surfaced in January 2024, and she or he has repeatedly accused him of misconduct within the rehearsal room.
In August 2024, it was reported that Abbington was “questioned a second time” about her claims in opposition to Pernice after she alleged the dancer made sexual feedback within the rehearsal room.
Additionally final month, in an interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy for Channel 4 Information, Abbington claimed that the present’s producers put in cameras in her rehearsal room after she raised considerations about Pernice.
“Each Friday, after the subsequent type of 5 weeks, I’d get the producer saying, on the Friday, ‘We simply watched the footage again, we’re shocked and horrified, we’re so sorry.’ That was to my face on the Friday once we would go in and do the digital camera rehearsal,” she mentioned.
“It’s on the market. There’s proof on the market of what occurred in that room and I’m not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve mentioned anybody can watch it, however he [Giovanni] doesn’t need anybody to see it, which is kind of telling if he’s bought nothing to cover.”
Requested by Guru-Murthy if she was speaking about bullying, she replied: “Sure, it’s bullying and it’s aggressive behaviour, there have been different issues that had been very upsetting, that you just handle within the room on the time, since you’re a girl, and you need to handle these issues as a result of in any other case, what do you do?”
