Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is ‘deeply disappointed’ with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe

Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe

As a seasoned observer and admirer of the dance world, I must say that the ongoing saga surrounding Giovanni Pernice and his alleged behavior on Strictly Come Dancing has left me both disheartened and intrigued. Amanda Holden, with her illustrious career spanning three decades in the entertainment industry, is no stranger to the rigors of show business. Yet, it seems that even she found herself at odds with a rehearsal room environment that fell short of the compassion, understanding, sensitivity, and kindness one would expect from a professional dance partner.


On the final evening of his vacation in Portofino, Giovanni Pernice appeared quite anxious while dining out on Saturday.

The 34-year-old dance professional seemed preoccupied, gazing off into nothingness, as anticipation mounted for the upcoming publication of the Strictly report within a few days.

As an utterly smitten admirer, I can’t help but gush over how intelligently our beloved star chose to don a sharp suit for his last dinner gathering. Seated among friends, his style continued to captivate us all.

Currently, it’s reported that Amanda Abbington feels deeply disillusioned with the BBC management due to suspicions that they’re shielding Giovanni during a bullying investigation.

50-year-old Actress from “Sherlock,” has levied a string of allegations against Giovanni regarding his teaching techniques, characterizing his actions as “unnecessarily harsh, abusive, brutal, and unkind.” However, he firmly rejects all these assertions.

Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe

Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe

Despite Amanda expressing her dissatisfaction with the investigation results, a friend of hers shared with The Sun that she is profoundly discontented with the BBC. They stated that she perceives the organization as having a male-dominated culture.

Apart from the delay in the investigation, it seems that they are prioritizing protection for Giovanni over fairness, potentially disregarding his experiences as well as those of other courageous women who have spoken up.

‘Amanda feels tired, upset and very angry with the way it’s all been handled.

She’s concerned that the outcome will be a repetitive sweep with no surprises, and innocent parties may endure mistreatment and harassment once more.

TopMob contacted Amanda and the BBC for comment. 

While Giovanni has recently declared his comeback to television dancing, specifically for the Italian adaptation of Dancing with the Stars, he is now actively engaging in this new endeavor.

Sharing some exciting news on Instagram, he wrote: “Hi everyone! I’m thrilled to let you know that starting next week, I will be part of the cast for @ballandoconlestelle – Italy’s Dancing with the Stars!

I’m really looking forward to diving in and resuming our dance sessions for you all again! Once more, thank you for your unwavering encouragement throughout this journey!

Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe
Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe
Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe

Last Friday, the dancer joyfully marked his 34th birthday by expressing gratitude towards fans on social media for their ongoing encouragement.

Regarding the forthcoming updates about his role on Dancing With The Stars, he said, “Thank you for your constant affection and encouragement! Brighter times are ahead and I can’t wait to share some thrilling tidbits with you shortly. Sending my love, Gio.

Following the disclosure that Amanda perceived the BBC executives’ line of questioning during our ongoing investigation into misconduct as highly offensive, I find myself deeply troubled and compelled to express my support for her sentiments.

The actress has once again faced questioning regarding a private video she received from the dancer, which also contained an inappropriate comment he made about another famous competitor during transmission.

Additionally, it’s said that Giovanni made an offhand remark concerning a relative of Amanda’s, leading BBC executives to inquire from Amanda if the comment was intended as playful joking.

A source told The Sun: ‘[Amanda] found this line of questioning highly offensive.’

Regarding the purported video, they stated to the press: “The BBC cannot dismiss the fact that they received the video. It appears there is a trace of evidence supporting it.

Despite the fact that it appears the footage was shared with good intentions, the BBC remains worried that such action might violate the terms of the contract given to the professional dancers.

According to a representative from the BBC, they won’t provide comments about specific people nor participate in guesswork.

Amanda has a daughter, Grace, and a son, Joe, with her former partner Martin Freeman, aged 52. They were together for 16 years, from 2000 to 2016.

Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe
Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe
Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe
Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe
Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe

After Martin extended a helping hand following the scandal, she found comfort in him during those challenging times. Additionally, her partner, Jonathan Goodwin, was also there for her, according to The Sun’s report.

After several weeks of examining, it’s anticipated that the BBC will wrap up their inquiry regarding Giovanni in the near future.

After the news broke about Amanda providing additional texts containing new insights into Giovanni’s conduct on Strictly, this event transpired.

The significant action taken has disrupted the BBC examination into the conduct of professional Giovanni, and it seems to have significantly altered the direction of the inquiry.

According to The Sun, Amanda has recently revealed some sensational messages that emerged right before the investigation was supposed to end. These messages allegedly suggest that Giovanni crossed the boundary of acceptable behavior.

As an overly enthusiastic admirer, I find myself recounting the news that I was allegedly grilled twice by the higher-ups at BBC regarding the coarse remarks I attributed to Giovanni.

Last week, she was reportedly questioned during a video conference. She met with two former Metropolitan Police detectives to share her accusations regarding the 33-year-old professional dancer.

It’s said that they talked about accusations involving inappropriate sexual remarks during practice sessions, along with fresh proof. However, Giovanni has refuted every claim brought against him.

TopMob contacted representatives for Amanda, Giovanni, and The BBC for comment.

Amanda has levied a string of allegations concerning Giovanni’s teaching approach, characterizing it as harsh, aggressive, unkind, and unfair. However, he firmly refutes every single accusation made against him.

During an interview, Amanda described the dance competition as being similar to “a battlefield,” sharing with Channel 4 News that BBC producers were reportedly shocked by footage that also seemed to depict “embarrassing and sexually suggestive behavior.

In a different context, during an interview with Christine Lampard on the Lorraine show, she expressed that it was out of line, cruel, harsh, and a form of harassment, enduring it for approximately five to six weeks.

Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe
Giovanni Pernice looks tense on final night of Portofino holiday after Amanda Abbington reveals she is 'deeply disappointed' with BBC bosses amid Strictly bullying probe

The process began quite promptly, and whenever it manifested, I’d find myself retreating, as I was attuned to the warning signs, or “red flags.

Thus, I’d close down, making entry challenging, and this situation would essentially confirm itself as true.

Discussing her show’s schedule, she mentioned that she spends each day in the rehearsal space. In fact, she has spent a remarkable 32 years within such spaces.

‘I know what rehearsal rooms are supposed to be like.

As someone deeply committed to our shared passion, I want to emphasize that the origins we come from – be it dance, drama, or music – matter little in the grand scheme. Regardless of these differences, each of us carries a responsibility when stepping into the rehearsal room: to nurture compassion, empathy, sensitivity, and kindness. Together, let’s create an environment where we can grow, learn, and excel with respect and understanding for one another.

‘And that wasn’t extended to me (at Strictly). And so I just said I don’t think this is right.’

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2024-09-09 17:19

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