Giovanni Pernice hss said he’s ‘confident’ his name will be cleared and continues to deny any ‘threatening or abusive behaviour’ towards Amanda Abington, after his former Strictly Come Dancing partner made fresh accusations against him on Thursday.
Having won with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021 and then suffered an early exit alongside Richie Anderson a year later, Giovanni was tipped to do rather well in the BBC ballroom when he was paired with Silk actress Amanda. However, after a promising start and some great scores from the judges,. the couple’s time on Strictly came to an abrupt end, when Amanda announced she’d quit, days after her absence from a live show was blamed on illness.
After an appearance on Channel 4 News on Thursday night, in which she made further claims against Giovanni, including inappropriate behaviour of a ‘sexual nature’ Amanda talked about her Strictly experience in an interview on Lorraine on Thursday, when she told host Christine Lampard that the treatment she was subjected to was ‘mean, nasty and bullying’ as she claimed that Giovanni had turned the rehearsal room into a ‘toxic environment.’
She added: “I know what rehearsal rooms are supposed to be like and I don’t care where, what background you’re from, whether it’s dancing, acting, singing, you know, you have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room, compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness. That wasn’t extended to me and so I just said, ‘I don’t think this is right.”
A representative for Giovanni has been quick to address the claims, with Christine reading out a statement live on Lorraine from the dancer and his team, which read: “We are cooperating fully with the BBC’s review process. All parties have been asked to respect this process and to not speak to the media until it concludes. We will continue to respect the integrity of this investigation and believe it is the right forum for this evidence to be reviewed.”
Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington (Image: BBC)
Moving onto the new accusations made against Giovanni by Amanda, the reply added: “As part of the evidence-led review, the BBC have shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us. They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations given to ITV, in any shape or form. We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not pay heed to very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.”
Once again denying that Giovanni was ever abusive towards Amanda, the statement ended: “Giovanni refutes any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour and, having provided the BBC with his evidence,. is confident the review will prove this.”
As part of the evidence-led review, the BBC have shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.
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Source: USA Today
