The BBC has cleared Giovanni Pernice of any “inappropriate” behaviour towards his Strictly Come Dancing dance partners.
This was concluded following an exhaustive internal investigation into allegations of misconduct by the 33 year old former Strictly dancer. The much-anticipated results of the probe, which took six months to complete, have been released today.
The investigation has cleared Pernice from accusations of being abusive, threatening, or intimidating. The inquiry also found no evidence of aggressive or physical conduct.
READ MORE: Strictly star Nick Knowles’ kids embarrassed by his fame – and wish he had other career
Click for more brilliant Daily Star TV stories
Launched in May, the investigation came after at least three celebrities reportedly sought legal counsel from Carter Ruck regarding claims of abuse, which Giovanni has consistently denied. With the heat on, ex-Metropolitan Police officers were hired by the BBC to assist with the “evidence gathering” process.
(Image: PA)
It’s understood that this included reviewing rehearsal footage of Giovanni and his former partner Amanda Abbington, as well as examining texts and screenshots exchanged between them.
Sherlock star, Amanda, 50, left the show last October for personal reasons but later disclosed her struggles with “mild PTSD” following her stint on the BBC programme. In a recent emotional interview, she opened up about her ordeal, revealing that she had voiced concerns over Giovanni’s “nasty” behaviour just three days into rehearsals, reports the Mirror.
She recounted: “I’ve got texts to the producer on day three going, ‘This is awful, he hates me, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I’m trying my best, I promise you.”
(Image: BBC)
Amanda slammed Giovanni labelling his behaviour as “inappropriate” and accusing him of creating a “a toxic environment” during rehearsals. She detailed the experience: “It was mean, it was nasty, it was bullying. And I put up with it for five or six weeks. It started very early on. When it started to happen, I would shut down, because I recognised those red flags.”
She further criticised the atmosphere in the training room, saying, “I don’t care what background you’re from – whether it’s dancing, acting, singing – you have a duty of care to bring into that rehearsal room compassion, understanding, sensitivity and kindness, and that wasn’t extended to me. And so I just said, I don’t think this is right.”
The allegations came to light during Amanda’s appearance on Lorraine, following an earlier interview with Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy, who also competed in the same series. She recounted incidents of what Guru-Murthy termed “humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature”, clarifying however that it did not amount to sexual harassment.
(Image: Instagram/giovannipernice)
Amanda claimed that producers were “shocked and horrified” upon reviewing the rehearsal footage. In response to the claims made on Channel 4, Giovanni, who has refuted any suggestions of “threatening or abusive” conduct, stated that the accusations presented by Amanda “did not resemble” the ones he had been informed of, and he called for patience until the BBC’s investigation results are released.
The Strictly scandal took another turn when Laura Whitmore, who partnered with Giovanni in 2016, became the second celeb to speak out, revealing she had raised concerns about his “inappropriate” behaviour to BBC chiefs eight years ago. In a bombshell statement, Laura confirmed she was among seven people who’d talked to the Beeb about Amanda’s allegations and said she was going public to combat “victim shaming.”
(Image: BBC/Jay Brooks/Matt Burlem)
Her revelation dropped just a day before the expected release of the BBC’s investigation into Giovanni’s antics on 29 July, which was then frustratingly delayed, leaving show execs eager to clear the air ahead of the new Strictly cast reveal.
Director-general of the BBC Tim Davie even stepped in with an apology to past contestants over their treatment, admitting his “disappointment” at hearing several stars’ complaints about their pro dance partners during practice sessions. He stressed: “There will be a degree of competitiveness and will to do well, but there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.”
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
