Strictly: Giovanni discusses his relationship with Amanda
Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington has responded to her former dance partner Giovanni Pernice’s interview on Lorraine with Christine Lampard.
In the interview, Giovanni claimed that until Amanda made the formal complaint he’d thought their “very rude banter” was part of a mutual joke.
“Amanda was a laugh, we were making each other laugh. She would say very bad things, like the C-word. In actual fact, the production staff came to us and said, ‘We have noticed that you call each other that word, is it ok?,” he claimed to the Mail Online.
The star admitted that Amanda responded: “Oh yeah it’s fine, I call him that! It’s absolutely fine, I started it.” He continued: “Those were her words, and I was like, ‘Yes guys, we are fine, we are joking like this.’ She’s the person who would start the joke. She would tell a dark joke.”
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BBC Strictly star Giovanni Pernice started recording trainings after Amanda complaint (Image: ITV)
A spokesperson for Amanda has now responded in a statement: “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 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.
“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.”
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Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice opened up about his side of the BBC scandal (Image: ITV)
Giovanni also confirmed he wanted his training sessions with Amanda Abbington to be recorded following a bullying claim – with leaked footage showing an insight to their row. On Tuesday (October 22) Giovanni, 34, set the record straight in an exclusive interview with Christine Lampard on Lorraine.
Amanda, 50, quit the popular reality dance show last year after citing medical reasons. The Sherlock star shared that she found two lumps in her breast and couldn’t concentrate on rehearsals.
Although the lumps were later found to be benign. However she complained about her dance partner to the British Broadcasting Corporation, alleging Giovanni was inappropriate and bullied her. The BBC upheld some of her complaints, including verbal bullying and harassment.
Footage which was reportedly acquired by The Sun earlier this year, saw Amanda, acknowledge that she felt she was “difficult” to work with. A source told the publication at the time that the footage is the type of conversation that is common between pros and celebrities.
Amanda Abbington has hit back at Giovanni’s claims on Lorraine (Image: Getty)
They said: “The type of everyday discussions that go on between partners and pros in rehearsals, which can, obviously, be very fraught.
“The idea that this is some kind of ‘smoking gun’ that will exonerate Giovanni from his alleged behaviour is absurd.”
Before adding: “The transcript is just dialogue between the pair, Amanda is being self-deprecating and was clearly trying to cope in a difficult situation – she had no idea Giovanni was secretly recording her.”
Meanwhile, additional audio footage of the pair saying they “love” one another is also thought to be a piece of “evidence” following the allegations.
During his chat with the Mail, 45, the Sicilian claimed that Amanda told production staff she was comfortable with him swearing.
While sharing that she hit back at him with a string of her own profanities too, it has been reported that prior to the couple’s announcement, that she had begged top bosses to be paired with Giovanni.
