Producers at Strictly Come Dancing have reportedly told Shirley Ballas to “rein in” her support for Giovanni Pernice.
Bosses at the BBC competition have told the head judge to tone down the support she is giving to the Italian hunk as an investigation into his conduct during training is ongoing. This comes despite Shirley actively working with Gio, 33, on his own projects.
Pernice has been at the centre of a debacle at the show after former partner Amanda Abbington accused him of bullying and misconduct during rehearsals last year. She went on to quit the show after five weeks, adding that the experience gave her post-traumatic stress disorder.
READ MORE: Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice probe widens after more complaints emerge about hit show
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Since then, she has lodged a formal complaint with the BBC about Giovanni’s behaviour, with other famous faces also coming forward. These include Good Morning Britain star Ranvir Singh and ex-Love Island presenter Laura Whitmore – all of whom also made their own allegations.
(Image: PA)
Italian stallion Gio has hit out at the claims – denying them entirely, stating he is “looking forward to clearing his name”. As a result, he has instructed a top legal firm to deal with any future claims being made against him.
Many of the former Strictly pro’s pals have given him their support – including Shirley, who has said previously that “the truth will come out” about what happened between the pair. However, Ballas’ backing has been so vocal, that BBC bosses have now asked her to pull back.
Speaking about the case, an insider close to the show told the Mirror: “Shirley has been told she needs to rein it in and not talk about Giovanni in the context of the case. It’s such a complex thing that we can’t have people associated with the show speaking out about it.”
(Image: BBC)
Ballas herself has been an avid supporter of Giovanni, adding during a press event for her new novel that Pernice is a “hard worker”, and passionate in what he does. “He wants the people to do the very best that they can do… so my feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation or whatever it is… and the truth will come out,” she explained.
“I won’t pass on the gossip unless I know 100% it is true,” she added. “I have never ever, ever experienced any ill will or bad feeling or bad sportsmanship or rudeness from him. He will be missed.”
Giovanni was confirmed to have left the Strictly ballroom behind earlier this year when his name did not crop up on the cast of professionals being picked for this year’s show. As a result, this will be the first time in nine years that Pernice will not be seen on Strictly at all, having joined the show in 2015 – and scoring one win with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
