Amanda Abbington speaks out on ‘cruel’ and ‘abusive’ Strictly experience

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Giovanni Pernice refuted fresh accusations from Amanda Abbington while the Sherlock actress addressed the ongoing BBC inquiry into Strictly Come Dancing.

The actor, who starred as Sherlock Holmes, accused Pernice of being harsh and cruel, saying that her mistreatment was more than just a minor incident. She also alleged that the dancer was preventing recordings of their rehearsals from being made public.

The dancing competition has faced controversy lately, as Graziano Di Prima has become the second professional dancer to be removed from the show due to accusations of mistreating former Love Island star Zara McDermott.

However, rumors of troubling training techniques started circulating last year when Abbington left the show and disclosed that she had been diagnosed with PTSD. The actress asked for recordings of her practice sessions with Pernice, leading to questions about how she was being treated. Pernice subsequently exited the show, while an investigation into the matter continued.

A recent interview in The Sun on Sunday featured Abbington discussing her interactions with Pernice, which she hadn't talked about before. She claimed that the dancer has been trying to prevent the release of certain recordings.

"He was being unnecessary, abusive, cruel, and mean," she stated. "I couldn't just stand by and watch him treating others that way."

I really had to carefully consider filing a complaint even though I was aware of the potential negative consequences. However, I couldn't live with the thought of others having the same experience on that show in the future.

Abbington talked about the negative response she received after speaking up about her experience, which included receiving threats on her life.

"It's unbelievable what I've been through, facing death threats and backlash," she went on.

I am aware that the BBC was aware of his actions for a long time. Many people had raised concerns and reported his behavior to producers, but no action was taken. It was not just a one-time incident for me. I regret ever having danced with him.

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The actress expressed confidence that the investigation will prove her allegations to be true.

"I am aware of the content on those tapes, and I am not afraid of them being viewed. What happened goes much further than just a minor inconvenience. I know the truth, and the fact that he is preventing the tapes from being seen speaks volumes," she stated.

A spokesperson for Pernice refuted the allegations made by Abbington in her recent interview, as reported by MailOnline.

"The BBC has told Giovanni about the accusations from the investigation, and he has fully participated," they mentioned.

The Sun on Sunday's claims have not been mentioned at all. Giovanni firmly denies these allegations and rejects any accusations of being abusive or threatening.

"He has given significant proof to the investigation and he is completely confident that he will prove his innocence."

The Independent has reached out to contacts of Pernice to get a response.