Strictly star Graziano Di Prima axed by BBC after ‘deeply regretful’ event

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Graziano Di Prima has been removed from Strictly Come Dancing because of some incidents that he is very sorry for.

In another unfortunate event for the show following a scandal involving Giovanni Pernice, news came out on Saturday (13 July) stating that Di Prima was removed from the series due to allegations of "serious misconduct".

Di Prima informed his followers on social media that he will not be participating in the upcoming series, which is scheduled to start in September. This decision comes after he was previously announced to be returning to the show just last month.

In a post that has since been removed from Instagram, he expressed remorse for the circumstances that caused him to leave Strictly. He acknowledged that his strong desire to win may have negatively impacted his training schedule.

I understand and respect the BBC HR procedure, and I believe it is necessary for the benefit of the show that I remove myself from it. I am disappointed that I was not given the opportunity to provide a statement for the online news articles, and I understand the delicacy of the situation.

He continued: "There are other details about this situation that I can't talk about right now, but I promise to stay strong for my loved ones. I hope that the Strictly family continues to thrive in the future."

It has been reported that Di Prima left the show after some people working on the show accused him of wrongdoing. These individuals had watched Di Prima rehearse with TV star Zara McDermott, his partner on the previous year's series.

It is thought that members of the production crew have come forward following the launch of an investigation into the series. Pernice, who departed the show last month, is being looked into.

McDermott did not accuse anyone, but was recently asked by producers to come to the BBC and talk about what happened to her. A source told The Sun that the video of Di Prima allegedly mistreating McDermott was so upsetting that it made people cry.

The ex-Love Island contestant had a difficult time on the show, often finding herself in the bottom two before ultimately being eliminated in the sixth week of competition.

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After a very tough day of practice, McDermott responded to Di Prima by posting a video of her sleeping, saying she had worked twice as hard as her partner.

"Graz dared to call me and complain about his sore legs after yesterday's rehearsal, even though he spent half the day sitting and watching me practice the routine alone," McDermott shared with her fans.

The BBC mentioned that they would address any raised concerns earnestly and assured that prompt action will be taken if needed.

A representative has announced that Graziano Di Prima will not be dancing in the next season of Strictly Come Dancing.

Although we cannot discuss specific cases, it is widely recognized that the BBC has strong and effective protocols in place to protect individuals. If concerns are brought to our attention, we will address them promptly and with the necessary action.

Di Prima left a comment on the post, which has since been taken down: "I hope the Strictly family keeps thriving in the future. I am grateful for all the support I've received in my career, both on a professional and personal level. When the moment comes, I will share the tale of my journey."

The Italian dancer started on Strictly Come Dancing in 2018 and danced with DJ Vick Hope. In 2021, he partnered with comedian Judi Love and in the next year, made it to the quarter-finals with actor Kym Marsh.

Pernice was removed from the series earlier this year, shortly after actress Amanda Abbington departed from the show during the latest series without acknowledging him in her farewell statement.

Not long after that, Abbington asked for what a source called "tense" footage of her rehearsals with Pernice for a supposed investigation. In a recent interview, the star criticized the Italian dancing pro, saying he was "terrible" to a group of previous contestants.

This past Sunday, during a recent interview, the Sherlock actor shared details about her difficult time on Strictly.

The upcoming season of the show will begin in September, and there is a new rumor about one of the contestants that could upset loyal fans of the show.