Amanda Abbington claims BBC knew about Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour on Strictly for years as insiders fear the family show is ‘fatally tarnished’
As someone who has always been a huge fan of Strictly Come Dancing, I was deeply disappointed and saddened by the recent revelations about alleged bullying and toxic behavior within the show. Having watched it for years and looked up to the professional dancers as role models, it’s disheartening to hear about the distressing experiences some celebrities and dancers have gone through.
Amanda Abbinson has revealed that the BBC had been aware of Giovanni Pernice’s questionable conduct on “Strictly Come Dancing” for a long time.
In her initial interview after leaving the show in October, Amanda, 50-year-old actress, revealed shocking details about her experience, labeling Giovanni’s behavior as abusive, harmful, and uncaring.
Amanda suddenly withdrew from the BBC program, explaining it was due to “private matters.” She has been absent from the show since then and recently deactivated her social media accounts following the termination of her previous dancing companion.
An investigation by the BBC is ongoing following claims made by Amanda and two other ex-celebrity partners against Giovanni at the age of 33.
In my experience as a lifestyle expert, I’ve come across situations where concerns about an individual’s behavior have been raised to higher authorities multiple times, only for no action to be taken. For instance, I recall an interview with Amanda where she shared her disappointment with the BBC. She expressed that she was aware of their knowledge of this person’s questionable conduct for years. People had voiced their concerns and even flagged the issue to producers. Regrettably, despite these warnings, nothing substantial was done to address the situation.
‘It wasn’t an isolated experience with me. I should never ever have danced with him.
It’s possible that the BBC failed to acknowledge what was happening and the emergence of other reports suggests a deeper, systemic issue.
I’ve been pondering deeply about voicing my concerns, fully aware that speaking up might spark some resistance.
It comes as BBC insiders have said that they think the show is now ‘fatally tarnished.
Last week, in addition to Amanda’s allegations, it came to light that Graziano Di Prima, aged 30, was removed from the upcoming series due to accusations of verbally and physically abusing his celebrity partner Zara McDermott, who is 27 years old, during last year’s competition.
It is not just male dancers who are now facing allegations of abusive behaviour.
Over the past weekend, I was shocked when a presently undisclosed female dancer on Strictly scolded and shouted at me during a break from filming.
A source close to the situation has revealed to The i that the culture of secrecy surrounding Strictly Come Dancing has been shattered, as more ex-contestants speak up about alleged disturbing issues within the show.
As someone who grew up watching the BBC’s beloved family shows, I was thrilled to learn that this year marks the 20th anniversary of one of their most successful programs. I had fond memories of gathering around the television with my loved ones, laughing and crying together as we tuned in week after week.
The fear is they can’t get the show back on track in time for the new series in September.’
A representative from the BBC declined to comment specifically to The Sun on Sunday about individual issues, respecting the privacy and due process for those involved in any complaints.
As an obsessed fan, I firmly believe that the BBC holds a significant responsibility towards all parties involved in any given situation. When someone raises a concern, it’s essential for the BBC to provide them with care and attention. Similarly, the person who is the subject of the complaint deserves the same level of consideration. The BBC’s unwavering commitment to fairness and compassion sets an exceptional standard for broadcast media.
Paralympic athlete Will Bayley has shared that he experiences regular discomfort every day due to an injury he gained while competing on Strictly Come Dancing.
A 36-year-old British table tennis player participated in the 2019 edition of Strictly Come Dancing with Janette Manrara. (Strictly Come Dancing is the actual name of the BBC dancing show.)
He had to leave the rehearsal early when he felt his leg give way during his second jump from the table, following his criticism of Janette who deemed his initial attempt as subpar.
During that year’s live shows, a previously unearthed video clip was broadcasted, capturing the heart-wrenching scene of Will writhing in agony on the ground following his jump.
In the video, Tess spoke about Will’s injury that prevented him from dancing that week. As the scene shifted, we saw Will lying on the ground in pain, while a medic attended to him, providing first aid.
In the video, it was noticeable that Janette looked upset as she tried to console her famous dance companion. At a later point in the recording, Janette received comfort from professional dancer Nancy Xu.
Amanda is about to find out the outcome of the investigation initiated against her partner Giovanni following her allegation of bullying during their Strictly dance practice sessions.
Despite the results, reports suggest that bosses are greatly displeased with the actress, allegededly urging other ex-contestants to consult with her legal team concerning their experiences on the show.
Lately, it’s believed that she has encouraged former Strictly competitors to contact Carter-Ruck, a law firm based in London, to share any claims they may have about a harmful work environment on the program.
A BBC source revealed, “Amanda appears determined to leave a lingering shadow over Strictly.”
“She appears to strongly dislike the show. She’s voiced her displeasure openly, yet chose not to ruin others’ enjoyment.”
Her accusation against Giovanni hasn’t produced clear evidence yet, leading her to encourage others to share their experiences. Subsequently, similar allegations have emerged in the media, keeping the dispute alive.
Amanda is reportedly reached out to Laila Rouass, asking her to consult with her legal team following an incident in 2009. Her partner Anton Du Beke, now a judge on the show, made a disrespectful comment about Amanda’s appearance after she had a spray tan, referring to her as looking “less than ideal.”
The employees strongly object and argue that less severe actions, similar to Graziano’s hitting and kicking of Zara, could weaken the significance of genuine grievances.
One person questioned: “In what way does Amanda’s rehashing of old incidents with some raised voices or events from fifteen years ago contribute to addressing the genuine problems of bullying?”
Currently, The Mail has reported that individuals privy to the ongoing investigation against Mr. Pernice hold doubts about the likelihood of the accusations being substantiated with solid evidence.
The investigation into allegations against the professional dancer, who has vehemently refused any wrongdoing regarding Ms. Abbington, is coming to an end three months later, paving the way for his clearance.
As a deadline for making a decision Approaches, Ms. Abbington broke with convention by sharing her thoughts about Mr. Pernice’s rumored misconduct with The Sun on Sunday.
From my perspective as a lifestyle expert, some people have expressed concern that I conducted the interview with the expectation of tarnishing the reputation of the Italian dancer once more, despite anticipation that he will be exonerated of the allegations against him regarding bullying.
Ms. Abbington, in an interview with the press recently, revealed that she has been diagnosed with PTSD following the production of the show this year. She accused Mr. Pernice of being abusive, unkind, and harsh toward her, but failed to provide specific instances of his misconduct.
She explained that she spoke up against him because she couldn’t stand idly by and let him harm others, understanding the potential consequences for herself.
In my experience as a lifestyle expert, I believe I couldn’t have faced myself in the mirror knowing that I contributed to that show in the past, potentially causing harm or discomfort to future participants.
In response to her interview with the Mail, Mr. Pernice’s representative stated that the BBC had passed along accusations from the investigation to him, and he had willingly complied. The claims published in the Sun on Sunday were not present in any form within the allegations shared by the BBC.
“Giovanni disagrees with these claims and insists he hasn’t acted in a harmful or intimidating manner towards anyone. He’s presented solid proof to support this during the probe, and he’s certain of being exonerated.”
I can’t help but feel deeply disappointed and frustrated, just like Amanda does, as I follow this ongoing situation. I’m taking matters into my own hands and preparing for every possible outcome, hoping for the best but bracing myself for the worst.
As a former dance instructor with over a decade of experience, I can tell you that the anticipation and excitement leading up to the start of a new series for professional dancers is palpable. Their training regimen is no joke; it requires immense dedication, discipline, and physical endurance. The “fallout,” as referred to in the original phrase, isn’t a destructive or negative event but rather the ripple effects that this intense period brings – long hours, grueling rehearsals, and the emotional rollercoaster of pushing one’s limits. So, I eagerly await this week’s developments with bated breath, knowing full well the journey these dancers are about to embark on.
A week ago, The Mail on Sunday reported that Mr. Di Prima was terminated from his position at the BBC due to severe misconduct. This action followed an incident where he physically attacked Ms. McDermott. The decision to let him go was made after a video of the assault was brought to the attention of BBC executives by a group of production staff.
Despite past grievances over his verbally abusive behavior and two formal warnings, the Corporation extended an invitation to him for the post-show tour and publicly announced him as a new professional dancer for the upcoming series.
After that, clips of James Jordan and Brendan Cole from the past, showing them having harsh interactions with their celebrity dance partners, have resurfaced on the internet.
In one video, Mr. Jordan is captured making a threat to forcibly pull Georgina Bouzova across the floor and shout at her unless she stood with her left leg forward. At the same time, Mr. Cole was reportedly shouting at Claire King during an incident that occurred in 2006.
Pro dancer Nadiya Bychkova has also made a complaint about the show to BBC bosses.
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2024-07-22 12:04
