Amanda Abbington makes graphic claims about Giovanni Pernice in Strictly rehearsals

Amanda Abbington has alleged that Giovanni Pernice made an unexpected sexual gesture while they were practicing for Strictly Come Dancing.

The BBC's inquiry into the Strictly controversy led the broadcaster to apologize to Abbington, 50, and support some of her claims against Pernice, 33. However, they found him not guilty of the most severe accusation.

Last year, the actress withdrew from the BBC One program, stating that she had "personal reasons" for her decision. She later alleged that she experienced a "toxic environment" and faced "inappropriate, mean, and nasty bullying," which led to an investigation being launched.

Pernice, who is not included in this year's lineup of professional dancers for Strictly, and has recently joined an Italian dance program, has previously denied any allegations of threatening or abusive conduct.

The investigation did not uncover any evidence of physical aggression. However, it did confirm complaints of verbal bullying and harassment, which accounted for six out of a total of 17 complaints.

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Following the inquiry, both Pernice and Abbington have shared their thoughts. Pernice expressed that he was "glad" it had finally come to a conclusion, while Abbington mentioned feeling "justified."

It has been reported that some of his comments have come to light. Meanwhile, Abbington has shared a heartfelt interview, providing more details about the events that supposedly occurred during their training for the competition.

In a Newsnight interview on Wednesday, Abbington shared her experiences of alleged mistreatment, describing it as a continuous series of verbal insults, inappropriate sexual suggestions, and gestures.

He spent 35 minutes venting at me, waving his arms around, insulting me, and listing everything I was doing wrong. It seemed like he was really at his breaking point.

"This lasted for seven hours each day, every day of the week," she added.

There were moments when things seemed fine, and we got along well, but that threw me off balance. In that environment, I could never be sure how things stood from one moment to the next.

You always had the sense of being in control, but the uncertainty of what was coming next could really overwhelm you.

"I completely froze in that space. They labeled me as crazy and unpredictable."

Abbington mentioned that she had never encountered anything in her professional journey that resembled what took place in those rehearsal spaces, where she observed instances of people rolling their eyes.

She also talked about the two sexual misconduct claims that the BBC confirmed, including her assertion that Pernice "gestured towards his groin" when he was pleased with her dance lessons.

Pernice has stated that this is not true, arguing that the report revealed "no proof" of the supposed gesture.

She mentioned, "The other sexual accusation was related to verbal comments, and they weren't just isolated incidents. They occurred repeatedly over a span of seven weeks."

"It felt really disorienting and made it hard to grasp what was real," she reflected on her feelings during that moment, adding that looking back, she would have chosen to leave.

Abbington expressed that she feels no remorse for filing complaints against her ex-dance partner, even though she has been inundated with hundreds of threats related to death and sexual violence.

"It has been one of the most challenging years I've ever faced," she expressed.

I've faced many challenges, and women often endure a lot as well. However, this period of my life has been particularly difficult, marked by chaos and constant struggles.

"I've faced a countless number of terrible experiences."

The actress from Sherlock mentioned that over the past eight months, she has received hundreds of threats.

In August, the Metropolitan Police announced that they were looking into a case after receiving a report of a supposed death threat aimed at Abbington, who was performing in "When It Happens to You" at the Park Theatre in Finsbury Park.

"I received a serious death threat at my workplace, which is a theater where I was employed, and the situation was taken seriously enough for the police to be involved," Abbington stated.

"I received a bomb threat at my workplace, warning that the building would be blown up because of my actions."

"I've received death threats aimed at me and my family."

I received horrifying messages threatening my 15-year-old daughter with sexual violence, taunting, "I'm just laughing at the thought of you having to witness your daughter going through something terrible because of what you've done to Giovanni Pernice."

"I received those messages daily, and I have screenshots that I've provided to the Metropolitan Police."

Abbington mentioned that the threats had "resumed" following the release of the BBC review on Monday.

She mentioned that she has been getting threatening messages, such as "I hope you get cancer" and "I knew you'd be shown to be wrong, you deceitful person."

Although facing threats, Abbington remarked, "I have no regrets" about filing complaints against Pernice.

She expressed, "The threats of death, sexual violence, and the constant harassment I face are devastating and deeply harmful to my spirit and emotional well-being."

"I often have women approach me on the street and express their gratitude, saying things like, 'You're helping create a safer environment for my daughter, where she doesn't have to feel threatened or afraid to voice her concerns.'"

In the interview, Abbington mentioned that she wasn't the only one to voice concerns about collaborating with Pernice on the BBC's main program.

She mentioned that she welcomed the previous contestants from Strictly (speculated to be Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore) to her house because "we wanted to ensure we weren't alone in feeling like this had only happened to us."

Abbington mentioned that when they initially came together, there was an outpouring of emotions, and everyone ended up in tears.

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Pernice has rejected the accusations made against him. A representative for Pernice stated that they disagreed with Abbington's reading of the report, describing it as yet another effort to undermine Pernice's reputation.

In a statement released on Monday following the verdict, the BBC expressed that it considers accusations of bullying and harassment to be extremely important. They explained that the investigation into Abbington's claims took longer than expected due to their intricate nature and the need for a thorough and careful examination.

"We've reviewed the complaints and decided to uphold some of them, but not all," the statement said.

"We'd like to express our sincere apologies to Amanda Abbington and extend our gratitude for her willingness to step forward and participate. We understand that this must have been a challenging decision for her."

The statement mentioned that the BBC production team made efforts to tackle the problems when they arose, but in the end, those efforts fell short.

After the report came out, Pernice posted a video on social media, stating: "Hey everyone, it's me. It's all over. It's done."

For six or seven months, I dealt with the challenge of reading daily news articles without being able to share my thoughts. I wanted to respect the confidentiality and privacy of the review process, which made it a tough period.

It was tough since going through things that were false wasn’t exactly one of the best moments in my life, to be honest.

"However, I'm feeling relieved today because, initially, I faced some very serious accusations. Thankfully, as of now, none of those major claims have been confirmed."

All claims regarding threatening, abusive, or harassing behavior have not been validated.

Today is an opportunity for all of us to pause and think. I understand that dancing isn't easy. It’s a demanding discipline, challenging in every way. As a teacher, dancer, or performer, there are times when you feel frustrated. But that frustration comes from your passion and commitment to what you do.

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As a dedicated teacher, my goal is to help my partner reach their full potential, and I sometimes find myself feeling frustrated in the process. I believe this experience is common for professionals everywhere—it's part of our commitment to excellence, and I truly enjoy it. Even in my current work with Bianca, there are moments of frustration, but I see it as a natural part of the journey. Ultimately, this effort helps us achieve great results.

"However, I'm pleased that none of these serious accusations have been confirmed."

I want to be completely truthful with all of you. Your love, your messages, and your unwavering support mean the world to me. I honestly don't know if I would have the strength to share this message without you all by my side.

I'm thrilled because today I get to continue pursuing my passion—doing what I've always been meant to do, which is bringing joy to all of you through entertainment.

"This is my journey and my passion, and I feel truly thankful for each and every one of you. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude and let you know that I love you all. Thank you, always."

Metro.co.uk has contacted Pernice's representatives for a statement.

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