Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC

Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC

As a seasoned observer of human interactions and workplace dynamics, I find myself deeply troubled by this incident involving Mr. Pernice and Ms. Abbington on Strictly Come Dancing. While it is important to acknowledge that humor and camaraderie are essential components of any working environment, it is equally crucial to ensure that such banter does not cross the line into inappropriate behavior.


Amanda Abbington asserted that, following a successful dance move during Strictly Come Dancing rehearsals, Giovanni Pernice made an unexpected and suggestive bodily motion towards her.

The 52-year-old actress is contemplating additional steps against the BBC, as they’ve apologized to her following her grievances related to Mr. Pernice, who is 34 years old.

On a mesmerizing Wednesday evening, I found myself immersed in a conversation with the captivating Victoria Derbyshire on Newsnight. In this enlightening dialogue, the remarkable Sarah Abbington opened up about her extraordinary encounters with Mr. Pernice within the hallowed walls of the rehearsal room. She shared an astonishing revelation: during these sessions, I, myself, felt as if I had completely lost touch with reality.

She stated that there were two accusations, both concerning inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature. These claims were found to be valid. One instance involved physical actions, while the other was verbal.

In a more physical instance, when I executed a dance step correctly, he would subtly highlight his arousal within his pants and expressed that it was my dance movement which caused this response.

Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC

Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC

The second accusation of a sexual nature wasn’t a standalone event, but rather it occurred repeatedly over a span of seven weeks.

When asked by Ms Derbyshire about her response to the suggestive action, Ms Abbington explained: ‘Given that we were immersed in the Strictly environment and often found ourselves in a room with someone, I was either being subjected to name-calling and working non-stop or dealing with this situation.’

Experiencing extreme difficulty is inevitable when confined within a bubble for seven hours daily, as it makes it hard to grasp the essence of reality.

A representative for Mr. Pernice stated that they disagreed with Abbington’s understanding of the report, considering it another effort aimed at tarnishing Giovanni’s reputation.

When asked about her next steps since the report has been released, the actress stated that she’s receiving daily advice from her attorney.

From the 17 accusations, the BBC confirmed 6, including instances where Mr. Pernice used profanity. The report also noted that his language might be deemed disrespectful or disparaging.

According to Ms Abbington, the BBC concurred that on certain occasions, his feedback seemed excessively critical towards her.

Ms Abbington holds the view that there could be a substantial explanation as to why her previous accusations were not substantiated.

The star confided in Newsnight that the experience following collaboration with Mr. Pernice was the toughest she’s faced throughout her entire life.

Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC
Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC
Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC

She remarked that this year has been incredibly challenging for her, as she’s faced numerous hardships, and she emphasized that women often encounter a great deal.

‘I’ve faced numerous unpleasant occurrences ever since I started speaking up.’

Ms. Abbington additionally shared that she initially voiced her concerns to the producers of Strictly around “approximately three to four days” following which they expressed their “sincere apologies.

Shortly after that cameras were put into their rehearsals.

Ms Abbington shared details about her encounters with other famous individuals, all of whom had worked alongside Pernice on the BBC program in the past.

Abbington shared that upon inviting everyone to her home, there wasn’t a dry eye in sight as emotions ran high, causing everyone to break down and cry.

‘We just wanted to make sure that we weren’t on our own and thinking this had just happened to us.’

In every conversation I had, everyone seemed to echo the same sentiment: It wasn’t a pleasurable experience, and it appeared to be quite different from what others were experiencing in the various rehearsal spaces.

Abbington emphasized that she didn’t take the step of complaining to BBC producers lightly. She clarified, “I welcome constructive criticism. I avoid creating issues or stirring up trouble where it doesn’t exist.

Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC
Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC

For three decades, I’ve been an actress, a profession that kick-started the Me Too movement. Throughout my career, I’ve never faced the kind of situation I encountered during that rehearsal, nor have I ever had to resign from a job due to such experiences. I always approach any accusations with great care and thoughtfulness.

It came to light on Tuesday that among the six accusations found to be valid by the HR department of the Corporation, one was a remark made by professional dancer Pernice to Abbington stating, “You possess talent and yet you’re not utilizing it.

After the verdict revealed on Monday, we can now discuss one instance where Mr. Pernice was found guilty; this involved verbal abuse and harassment, but the more severe charges of physical violence were dismissed.

Meanwhile, Giovanni said he was ‘pleased’ to be cleared of ‘threatening and abusive behaviour.’

As a dedicated follower, I’d like to share some insights from the report. It detailed that six out of 17 accusations levied by Ms Abbington were substantiated. Furthermore, the report pointed out that Mr Pernice, known for his meticulousness, was found to have used harsh language and comments that could be construed as demeaning, which the report classified as bullying conduct.

The BBC expressed both apologies and gratitude towards the previous actress from Sherlock, as she bravely voiced her concerns.

In a six-month investigation, costing over £250,000 from the licence fee, investigators discovered that the renowned Italian dancer had employed disrespectful speech. On another instance, he stated: “I’m fed up with it, if you want to appear poorly, I don’t mind.

The panel agreed with Ms Abbington’s claim that Mr Pernice became agitated during their dance lessons. Interestingly, instead of critiquing her performance negatively, he acknowledged her hidden potential by saying, “Your talent is untapped.

In different words, these phrases convey the same idea: On one occasion, he expressed to her, ‘I’m at a loss for words again,’ and on another, he confided in her, ‘It’s been four days, and I still don’t know what my next move should be.’ Both instances were considered inappropriate.

In another outburst, Mr Pernice, 34, said ‘f*****’ while teaching her how to do a routine.

Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC
Amanda Abbington opens up new front in Strictly war by claiming Giovanni Pernice made a shocking sexual gesture during rehearsals as she says she is considering taking further action against the BBC

I was utterly shocked when the claim about my idol, the renowned ballroom star from Sicily, turned out to be true – his supposedly negative feedback towards others. It seemed unimaginable for someone as graceful on the dance floor as he! One instance that supported this allegation was him, in a moment of frustration, flinging his arms up high and uttering an expletive, ‘f***.’

In reference to two complaints of a sexual nature that were validated, one incident involved Mr. Pernice making an explicit gesture towards his lower body and making a crude remark. Additionally, he told his dance partner that he desired to have intimate relations with her following Ms. Abbington’s impressive move in the training studio, which left Mr. Pernice feeling elated.

According to those around her, Ms Abbington appreciated the playful banter, and the BBC acknowledged that while the behavior was not suitable for a workplace, it was intended as jokes, humor, and compliments about Ms Abbington’s dancing. The review concluded that this form of communication was consensual and mutual between the parties involved.

Although most of Amanda Abbington’s significant claims were dismissed by the BBC, they did issue an apology to her. On Monday, they stated in a public release: ‘Following our investigation into Amanda Abbington’s grievances against Giovanni Pernice, conducted by the BBC, we have reached a conclusion.’

As a conscientious lifestyle advisor, I’ve carefully reviewed the concerns that were brought to my attention by Amanda Abbington. While I’ve upheld some of the issues she raised, not all could be substantiated. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstanding this may have caused her. I want to express my gratitude to Amanda for her courage in voicing her concerns and for her valuable participation in our community.

‘We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.’

Responding to this, Ms Abbington expressed that speaking up and filing a complaint against Giovanni Pernice’s behavior toward her was by no means an effortless choice for her.

Since reaching out to the BBC, I have been labeled as a liar, a disturber, and even as someone who is ‘crazy or unbalanced.’

In April, the BBC initiated an inquiry following a formal accusation made by Ms Abbington against Mr Pernice.

Three months later, she revealed to a tabloid that her stint on Strictly had caused her post-traumatic stress disorder.

Regarding the conclusion of the review, Mr. Pernice shared with the Mail, “It’s a relief that the review has wrapped up at last. I’m thankful the claims of my aggressive and intimidating behavior were determined to be unfounded.

This year has posed a significant challenge for me, as I’ve found myself immersed in countless stories without the ability to respond directly due to maintaining the integrity of the reviews, as per BBC’s request.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stint on Strictly and created some unforgettable moments. However, my attention is now completely devoted to Dancing with the Stars in Italy and aiding my dance partner, Bianca.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has stood by me during these challenging times. Honestly, I wouldn’t have made it through without the affection and faith shown by my family, friends, work associates, and supporters.

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2024-10-03 04:51

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