Graziano Di Prima ‘is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly’ after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

As someone who has followed Strictly Come Dancing for years and has always dreamed of being a part of it, I was beyond excited when I received the invitation to join the show as a contestant. I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to the experience, pouring all my energy into rehearsals and training sessions.


According to reports, Graziano Di Prima is currently receiving medical care following his departure from Strictly Come Dancing.

A professional dancer, aged 30, was let go from the show earlier in this month following claims that he had mistreated Zara McDermott during rehearsals for the previous season. Allegedly, videos surfaced displaying him using both physical and verbal abuse towards her.

The family of Graziano is reportedly keeping a close eye on his condition and feeling worried for his health. They are checking on him regularly every hour.

According to The Mirror, Graziano’s loved ones expressed worry: “Graziano is receiving medical care right now. We’re keeping a close eye on him every hour due to the tension of the circumstances.”

I’m deeply engulfed in the persistent barrage of questions and speculation about these allegations against me, making it challenging for me to present my side of the story at the moment.

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations
Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

TopMob has contacted Graziano Di Prima for comment. 

After quitting Strictly, the dancer has returned to Italy to be with his mother, wife, and other family members.

He’s currently living in a secluded family farmhouse among vineyards, away from the hustle and bustle, ever since the unexpected news of his termination became public.

The behavior of this individual has taken his tight-knit family by surprise, as they find it hard to reconcile with the fact that their beloved son, who gained fame by leaving their small town for the UK, seems to have strayed from his usual good nature.

Currently, there’s been a development as Zara has spoken up for the first time since news emerged that her friend Pete Wicks is participating in Strictly Come Dancing this season.

Although they are good friends, Pete was surprise-selected for Strictly, while Zara reportedly danced on the show despite a fractured leg from her training session. She allegedly relied on painkillers to endure the lengthy rehearsals.

According to claims, videos exist that depict Graziano engaging in abusive behavior. Zara described these videos as deeply troubling to watch.

A source told TopMob: ‘Zara is so happy for Pete landing the Strictly gig.

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations
Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

‘Her experience on the show was so individual – she hopes no one will go through the same again.

Based on my personal observation and experience, I firmly believe that Pete is destined for great success. His unwavering work ethic and inherently good nature have prepared him well for any challenge that comes his way. The intensity of the environment may be daunting to some, but Pete thrives under pressure. He shines brightest when faced with difficult tasks, and I have no doubt that he will leave a lasting impression on the judges. With his dedication and positive attitude, there’s nothing holding him back from achieving amazing things.

Zara prefers not to let past events affect her experience on Strictly, and she supports Pete wholeheartedly, despite its personal connection.

Last year, Pete attended the Strictly studio audience alongside Sam. They both donned colorful shirts adorned with Zara’s image as a sign of their loyalty.

They posed for photographs alongside Zara and Graziano.

Sam and Pete, both reality TV personalities, met while filming Celebs Go Dating on E4 in the year 2019. Since then, they’ve been sharing a friendship and co-hosting the podcast named Staying Relevant.

It comes following new reports that Zara suffered a leg fracture during training for the BBC show.

The Love Island celebrity suffered an unpleasant wound while rehearsing with Graziano for their performance, but even in extreme discomfort, they persevered and danced in the competition.

Based on reports, Zara didn’t know she had been injured until she went to see a doctor following her elimination from the program. Only recently did show officials become aware of her injury during interviews about Graziano’s behavior.

Earlier this month, Strictly Compers compelled Graziano to leave following claims of him harshly treating Zara during rehearsals, with both physical and verbal misconduct reportedly captured on film.

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

Based on The Sun’s report, Zara endured ten-hour training sessions with Graziano by using painkillers. Despite this, they decided to perform in the dance-off. Ultimately, they were eliminated from the competition during Halloween Week.

Later on, it was alleged that Zara went to the hospital for an examination. Upon taking an X-ray there, it was found that she had sustained serious damage to the ligaments and also a stress fracture in her left tibia.

I was following her progress at training closely, and I noticed that she began experiencing an uncomfortable, persistent ache in her left leg. Over time, this pain worsened significantly, leaving her in immense agony by the final weeks. She became reliant on taking painkillers not just during sessions but also before and after them to manage the discomfort.

‘She made Graziano aware of her discomfort but he was pretty adamant they needed to crack on.

It was clear that they both aimed for the best scores. Sadly, she endured the pain despite not receiving medical attention on the spot. The production team remained unaware of the severity of her injury.

Zara reportedly shared with BBC executives about the challenging training experiences she went through while partnered with Graziano on the program.

An insider revealed to the media that Graziano advised her to rest occasionally, but she was determined to keep pushing through her discomfort and train further.

A spokesman for Zara declined to comment to The Sun. 

I recently went through an experience where I found myself wearing a recovery boot due to an injury. I took to social media to update my followers about this unexpected setback. At that moment, I didn’t disclose that this injury was the result of the intense training regime during my stint on Strictly Come Dancing.

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

Based on recent news on Sundays, I’ve learned that Graziano has been allegedly pursuing Zara relentlessly and hurling abusive language at her. The intensity of his actions left her feeling terrified to the point of barricading herself inside a bathroom locking the door behind her for safety.

He’s expressed regret for kicking his ex-partner but mentioned that other accusations don’t correspond with his own recollections of the incident.

Based on recent disclosures, it has been claimed that he allegedly used insulting language towards her, inquired about her weight gain, and acted aggressively. The result left her looking dejected and crying.

In her previous statement, Zara described some disturbing occurrences that took place within the training room.

At that moment, she chose not to disclose the occurrences due to fear of repercussions. It was eventually the junior production team members who spoke up.

A source close to the situation shared with The Sun: “Zara hurried to the restroom and secured the door behind her. He pursued her, shouting insults. His behavior was threatening, and he hurled derogatory remarks at her. The incident left Zara feeling frightened.”

Graziano could be heard shouting persistently, but as soon as the production team entered the room, he would fall silent. He’d exclaim, “What’s wrong with you people not getting this?”, and “Is there really a need for us to be here?”. Zara showed clear signs of demotivation.

The insider added that Graziano would apologise each time and ‘promise to not do it again.’

As a lifestyle expert, I’d like to share my perspective on this matter in the first person. I firmly believe that there’s no appropriate time for resorting to physical violence, such as kicking. This behavior goes against the principles of respect and peace that I advocate for in everyday life. Mark Borkowski, representing Graziano, echoes my sentiments when he stated to BBC News that “there is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right.” And trust me, anyone who values harmony and good relationships would agree with us on this.

He knows he’s made a mistake. He apologised at the time.’

Based on news articles, Mark mentioned: “However, he seems oblivious to certain aspects of the situation. The portrayals of the issue online and his recollection of it don’t match up.”

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

Graziano has secluded himself completely from civilization. In my opinion, and with the agreement of his wife, this is a prudent decision given his mental health concerns. He is currently dealing with these issues in private.

Graziano believed the matter had been resolved at the time. 

An investigation began against him due to Strictly’s efforts to maintain a respectful environment following allegations of abusive behavior towards Amanda Abbington, his dance partner for the 2023 season, leading to his departure from the show. However, Giovanni has refuted these accusations.

Based on reports from behind the scenes, videos of Graziano mishandling Zara led company officials to terminate his employment agreement.

In an Instagram post about his departure from “Strictly,” Graziano expressed regret over the circumstances leading to his exit. He acknowledged that his strong drive to win may have influenced his training methods inappropriately. To ensure the best interest of the show, he chose to comply with the BBC’s HR procedures and leave.

He added: “Though certain parts of this tale involving outside factors cannot be disclosed now, I will stay resilient for my loved ones. My best wishes go out to Strictly and the BBC for their continued achievements.”

At the end of his post, he expressed gratitude: “I’m indebted to those who have aided me in my professional and personal growth. I look forward to telling you my tale when the moment is appropriate.”

A BBC representative responded to TopMob, “We don’t discuss specific people or contribute to rumors.”

As your trusted lifestyle expert, I believe in maintaining open lines of communication. While I strive to get things right the first time, I understand that there may be occasions when you want to share concerns or new information with me. In such cases, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly. We have well-established procedures and processes in place to ensure your voice is heard and your concerns are addressed appropriately.

After being quiet for some time, Zara spoke up following the dismissal of Graziano from Strictly Come Dancing due to allegations that he had physically harmed her on a recent Tuesday.

On Instagram, the Love Island celebrity shared that her experience on Strictly was mostly wonderful for her, but she found some moments in the training room with Graziano particularly upsetting.

Zara expressed her belief that she should share her thoughts on the latest news stories. “Strictly is undeniably one of the most enchanting shows on television for me,” she continued, “a dream I harbored since my childhood.”

Receiving an invitation to be a contestant on the show felt like a dream come true from my childhood days. I was fully aware of the immense dedication and hard work required for Strictly, and I gave it my all.

‘I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took.’ 

Graziano Di Prima 'is under medical supervision and being monitored hourly' after being axed from Strictly following Zara McDermott abuse allegations

In every way, my time on Strictly surpassed my wildest dreams. The entire production crew, along with those working behind the scenes, were truly wonderful to collaborate with. My fellow contestants were also exceptional companions throughout this experience.

Yet, my time within the training room contrasted significantly. There have been allegations concerning my conduct during filming, with eyewitnesses and recordings of specific occurrences that are deeply disturbing.

Zara explai-ned that she didn’t report the incidents at the time as she was ‘scared’ of backlash. 

During the probe into professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, it was the junior production team members who stepped forward to disclose what they had observed.

An investigation at the BBC is ongoing following accusations made by Amanda Abbington and two other ex-celebrity partners against Giovanni, resulting in his suspension.

He’s since refuted all allegations of abusive or menacing conduct leveled against him by Amanda during her BBC interview, and has willingly collaborated with the broadcasting corporation.

On Taylor, Paralympic champion Will Bayley shared his experiences on the program.

In an interview, the 36-year-old dancer expressed that he sustained severely injurious impacts during a rehearsal for the dance routine he shared with Janette Manrara in 2019. He went on to voice concerns over the show’s responsibility towards ensuring dancers’ wellbeing after being compelled to repeat a jump.

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2024-07-26 13:55

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