Giovanni Pernice hasn’t publicly spoken out much about his Strictly Come Dancing exit, offering only official statements following the recent investigation findings which were prompted by “bullying” allegations made against him by Amanda Abbington.
However, the dancer, 34, made several bombshell claims on Tuesday as he appeared on a TV interview to break his silence on the scandal that tainted the family show for much of 2024.
Last year, Abbington, 52, made complaints about Pernice after being paired with him on the 2023 series.
She opted to leave in week five, initially citing health reasons but later her criticisms of the Italian dancer became public and a BBC probe was launched.
Pernice left the show and is currently taking part in Italy’s version of the competition after nine years of participating in the BBC show.
The findings of the probe were only recently reached, with six of Abbington’s 17 allegations upheld. The corporation also apologised to the actress.
Pernice explained in the interview that he felt “relieved” by the findings, but was quizzed about the broadcaster’s apology.
Giovanni gave his first TV interview since the BBC investigation
ITV
When asked why he thought the BBC had apologised to the Sherlock actress, he replied: “Well if they felt that way it’s their decision.”
He went on to add: “I agree with the BBC, it’s good that Amanda came forward. If you don’t feel right, it’s important you talk to somebody.”
“I was actually pleased when the whole thing finished. It took longer than it should have, but I’m glad we have the report.
“I’m not against the investigation starting in the first place, everyone should go and talk if they have a problem so I think she did the right thing.”
During his appearance on ITV’s Lorraine, he was shown a recent clip of Abbington discussing the “abuse” she claimed she underwent.
She told Newsnight: “It was an ongoing litany of being verbally abused, sexual innuendos, sexual gestures, a 35 minute rant at me with him throwing his hands up in the air and calling me names.
“And how he couldn’t cope with it anymore, this went on for seven hours a day, for seven weeks. I was called mad and unstable.”
Stand-in host Christine Lampard asked the choreographer: “What is your response to that?”
“Well, that’s the reason I’m here today – to answer that. There’s so much that’s not true in this… and again, the report is there,” he replied. “The most important thing is to accept what the result is and move on with our lives.
Giovanni gave his response to the BBC findings
ITV
“Otherwise, we’re in a circle that’s never going to finish. I wish we trained seven hours a day – we never did. I never called her names or mad, the report says those allegations haven’t been upheld.”
“Is there anything you do feel sorry for or would fix?” Lampard probed.
“The trolling and the messages were disgusting,” Pernice admitted, referring to the vitriol and hate Abbington received online from the public after making the accusations.
He continued: “Nobody should do this to their worst enemy, all these messages shouldn’t happen.”
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for Abbington said on Tuesday: “Mr Pernice’s claim that ‘everything in the rehearsal room worked perfectly’ is false and delusional, and underlines the toxic culture Ms Abbington endured on Strictly Come Dancing.
“The BBC’s own investigation concluded that Mr Pernice was in breach of multiple BBC Policies, including repeated breaches of the Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy.
“Mr Pernice was spoken to by the BBC on several occasions about his misconduct – but his behaviour only continued.
“At no time did Ms Abbington regard his verbal abuse or inappropriate sexual behaviour as banter.
“This is precisely the kind of gaslighting behaviour which victims of bullying and harassment often have to endure: it’s these people Ms Abbington will continue to speak up for.
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice were partnered together in last year’s BBC Strictly
BBC
“Ms Abbington remains concerned about the way the inquiry into her complaint was handled by the BBC, and the leaking of the investigation Report to the press, and will be meeting with the corporation in due course to raise these in more detail.”
Pernice wasn’t alone in his relief from the BBC findings, with Abbington also seeming to feel vindicated.
In response to the findings, she said at the time: “This apology means a great deal to me.”
She described coming forward as “not an easy thing to do” and revealed she had faced accusations of being “a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable'”.
The actress also disclosed receiving “rape and murder threats” and a bomb threat to her workplace. Despite this, Abbington stated: “I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.”
She expressed hope that others would now feel “more confident that they will be listened to and believed”. The BBC has invited Abbington to meet with senior management, which she is considering.