Shirley Ballas urges everyone to ‘move on’ after results of Giovanni Pernice misconduct investigation as Amanda Abbington says she is considering further action against BBC

Shirley Ballas urges everyone to 'move on' after results of Giovanni Pernice misconduct investigation as Amanda Abbington says she is considering further action against BBC

As a passionate fan of Strictly Come Dancing, I can’t help but feel deeply moved by the experiences shared by Shirley Ballas and Amanda Abbington. Having followed the show for years, I’ve always admired its glitz, glamour, and the camaraderie it fosters among its contestants. However, this latest scandal has cast a somber shadow over the otherwise vibrant landscape of Strictly.


Shirley Ballas expressed her desire that everyone could put aside the controversy surrounding the ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ bullying incident and move forward.

The chief judge of the BBC show has voiced her approval for the results of a recent BBC investigation and endorsed how the producers dealt with problems in the past.

As a devoted follower, I was taken aback when allegations of misconduct surfaced, causing a stir. Specifically, Graziano Di Prima found himself removed from the show following accusations of violent behavior towards Zara McDermott. Furthermore, Amanda Abbington and others have voiced concerns regarding Giovanni Pernice‘s teaching techniques.

At a book event on Tuesday, Shirley expressed her disapproval of bullying, as she herself has experienced it.

If there are issues needing resolution, I empathize with those who desire change. I believe everyone should have an opportunity to voice their concerns. Now that the investigation has concluded, it’s time for everyone to move forward.

Shirley Ballas urges everyone to 'move on' after results of Giovanni Pernice misconduct investigation as Amanda Abbington says she is considering further action against BBC

Shirley Ballas urges everyone to 'move on' after results of Giovanni Pernice misconduct investigation as Amanda Abbington says she is considering further action against BBC

She remarked: ‘During the past eight years on this program, I’ve appreciated the protection provided. I’ve always felt securely looked after, especially during times when bullying became extremely harsh.’

This week, the BBC acknowledged that they’ve given the accusations against Giovanni careful consideration. However, only six out of the seventeen allegations brought against him have been found to be valid.

Meanwhile, Amanda is contemplating additional steps against the BBC, following her public discussion about the findings of the investigation during a Newsnight interview on Wednesday evening.

In an open conversation, the actress from Sherlock’s cast shared that she had hosted a gathering at her house for fellow Strictly Come Dancing competitors to share their experiences about the show’s handling.

She said she and the other stars wept as they spoke of their experiences working with Giovanni. 

During a conversation with Victoria Derbyshire, Amanda shared that while working in the rehearsal space, she felt as though she had completely detached from the real world.

She mentioned that she socialized with other stars who had worked alongside Pernice on the BBC program before.

Revealing she invited the group to her house, Amanda said ‘we all cried, we all burst into tears.  

Shirley Ballas urges everyone to 'move on' after results of Giovanni Pernice misconduct investigation as Amanda Abbington says she is considering further action against BBC
Shirley Ballas urges everyone to 'move on' after results of Giovanni Pernice misconduct investigation as Amanda Abbington says she is considering further action against BBC

‘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, people shared a common sentiment: it wasn’t enjoyable, and it seemed to differ significantly from what others were experiencing in different rehearsal spaces.

The actress said on Newsnight, when asked about her next steps since the report was released, that she is “relying on my attorney’s advice every day.

Among 17 claims made against him, the BBC confirmed six instances, some involving Giovanni’s use of inappropriate language. The report also pointed out that his choice of words might have been disrespectful or demeaning.

According to the BBC’s assessment, Amanda felt that he was providing her with unduly critical feedback on certain occasions.

Amanda too holds the opinion that there’s a substantial explanation as to why the claims she previously made weren’t validated.

In simpler terms, she shared with Newsnight that the experience following collaboration with Giovanni was the toughest she’s ever faced in life.

She remarked, ‘This year has been incredibly challenging for me – I’ve faced numerous hardships, much like many women do.’

As a conscientious individual, I’ve found myself confronted with an unfortunate series of events, seemingly retaliation for voicing concerns or opinions.

Shirley Ballas urges everyone to 'move on' after results of Giovanni Pernice misconduct investigation as Amanda Abbington says she is considering further action against BBC

Regarding the investigation, the BBC announced that they’ve reviewed the concerns raised and found some to be valid, while others were not substantiated.

“We’d like to express our sincere apologies to Amanda Abbington, as well as extend our gratitude for her courage in speaking up. We understand that this was not a simple decision or action.

In my professional opinion as a lifestyle expert, I’ve come to understand that some of Giovanni’s language towards Amanda might have been perceived as diminishing or belittling, and I concur with the actress portraying Mr. Selfridge that his feedback could at times be excessively critical. Additionally, it has been brought to light that he may have used inappropriate language during rehearsals.

During a thorough examination of numerous recordings from rehearsals, conducted as part of an official probe, it was observed that instances of behavior deemed inappropriate or suggestive in nature, and categorized as sexual banter within the workplace, were actually perceived by the involved individuals as mere jokes exchanged between them.

The decision was made not to support Amanda’s claim that the video he sent her via WhatsApp was inappropriate.

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2024-10-03 11:51

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