Timeline of Strictly scandals: From Graziano Di Prima to Giovanni Pernice claims
Get Instant Breaking News Alerts For Free
Subscribe To Our Free News Alerts
I want to receive emails about deals, happenings, and news from The Independent. Check out our privacy policy.
Strictly Come Dancing, which was once regarded as a very family-friendly TV show in the UK, is now facing a series of controversies.
The problems started in January when Amanda Abbington, known for her role in Sherlock, asked for footage of her tense rehearsals with Giovanni Pernice on the 2023 series. This request led to an investigation into misconduct. As a result, Graziano Di Prima, who danced with Zara McDermott from Love Island and Made in Chelsea, has been fired.
Abbington has stated that she was diagnosed with mild PTSD after being on the show, describing her time with Pernice as difficult and terrible. On the other hand, McDermott shared that she found it hard to talk about her upsetting experience with Di Prima because she was afraid of negative reactions from the public, the impact on her career, and potential victim-blaming.
After abuse accusations caused concern on the popular show, it is said that the BBC may make changes to their safety protocols by providing chaperones for upcoming contestants on Strictly Come Dancing. These chaperones would be present during all dance rehearsals to make sure that boundaries are not crossed by the professionals.
As Strictly Come Dancing faces challenges, here is a timeline of the beloved dance competition's continuous controversies.
Amanda Abbington quits Strictly Come Dancing - October 2023
In the recent past, actress Amanda Abbington and her dance companion Giovanni Pernice were doing very well on the Strictly competition - they were even being talked about as potential finalists. However, during the fifth week, Abbington unexpectedly withdrew from the competition, stating it was for medical reasons (the fact that she didn't mention Pernice in her farewell message led to a lot of speculation).
We are asking for video of Giovanni Pernice practicing for a performance in January 2024.
In the beginning of the year, there were reports saying that Abbington had asked for videos of her rehearsals from the show and was considering legal help. Later on, the actor from Sherlock shared that she had been diagnosed with mild PTSD after her time on the show. Additionally, it was said that she had a meeting with two of Pernice's past dance partners, Ranvir Singh from Good Morning Britain and Laura Whitmore from Love Island, where they talked about their challenging experiences and got emotional.
Pernice departs from Strictly Come Dancing and refutes accusations – May 2024
New developments in the Abbington/Pernice situation occurred when a report claimed that Pernice had left the show. The BBC did not confirm or deny this information, only mentioning that the line-up for the 2024 season would be announced at a later date. Pernice then shared a lengthy statement on his Instagram addressing rumors about his teaching methods. He denied any allegations of abusive behavior and expressed his desire to clear his name. Pernice emphasized his passion and competitiveness, stating that he is dedicated to helping his dance partners succeed.
News about a BBC internal inquiry is received in June 2024.
Following Pernice's comments, the BBC crew looking into claims of inappropriate behavior at work by the dancer reportedly learned that he had sent an offensive video to Abbington through Whatsapp before filming for the live show. Pernice stated that he was fully participating in the investigation of the video that was deemed "highly offensive."
Only available to new customers. Monthly cost is £8.99 after the initial free trial period. The plan will continue to renew automatically each month until cancelled.
Only for those who sign up for the first time. The cost is £8.99 per month after the initial free trial period. The plan will automatically renew each month unless it is cancelled beforehand.
New claims have come to light regarding Graziano Di Prima on July 13, 2024.
The investigation by the BBC into misconduct on Strictly Come Dancing led to more allegations coming to light. Dancer Graziano Di Prima was removed from the show after staff reported his inappropriate behavior towards his dance partner Zara McDermott during the 2023 season.
Team members from the production are said to have shared their thoughts following an inquiry into the show, which is dealing with the controversy surrounding Pernice. McDermott did not make the accusation directly, but it is said that the BBC asked her to talk about what happened. A source told The Sun that the video showing Di Prima’s behavior towards McDermott was so upsetting that it made viewers cry.
Di Prima releases a statement addressing the accusations made against him on 13 July 2024.
In response to being fired, Di Prima, a member of Strictly since 2018, expressed remorse for the circumstances that led to his departure. He mentioned that his strong desire to win may have impacted his training schedule and recognized that it was necessary for him to step back for the sake of the show. The BBC stated that they do not comment on specific cases, but emphasized that they have thorough procedures in place to ensure the well-being of their participants, and will address any issues raised promptly and appropriately.
A source from the BBC told the Daily Mail that the main question that needs to be addressed is why Graziano was invited back for another season.
Zara McDermott opens up about her time on Strictly Come Dancing - July 16, 2024
Following Di Prima's departure from Strictly, Zara McDermott finally spoke out about her time on the show. Taking to Instagram, she expressed her gratitude for the wonderful experience she had. McDermott praised the production team, behind-the-scenes staff, and her fellow contestants for their support and camaraderie.
On the contrary, my time in the training room was completely different. There have been complaints about how I was treated during the show, and there were people who saw certain things happen, along with videos that were really hard to watch.
The TV personality and filmmaker mentioned that she had struggled with the fear of being vulnerable. She also confessed that she had feared facing criticism from the public and being blamed for being a victim.
"After many heartfelt discussions with my closest friends and family, I now feel empowered to confront these fears," she shared.
The Independent has reached out to the BBC and representatives of Graziano Di Prima for their response.
