Amanda Abbington's fiancé shares support after BBC rules on Strictly probe
Amanda Abbington's fiancé has expressed his support after the BBC finished its investigation into allegations of bullying she faced during her participation in last year's Strictly Come Dancing.
Jonathan Goodwin, a one-time star of Britain's Got Talent and ex-escapologist, who is 44 years old, recently used Instagram Stories to post a news article revealing that the broadcaster had issued an apology to the 50-year-old Sherlock actress.
On Monday, the BBC announced that it had reviewed her complaints regarding the conduct of professional dancer Giovanni Pernice while she was on the show and decided to support some of her concerns, but not all of them.
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice were teamed up on Strictly Come Dancing.
Pernice, who was not included in this year's lineup of professional dancers on Strictly and has since become part of an Italian dance show, has previously denied any allegations of threatening or abusive conduct.
The BBC released a statement that said, "We have reviewed the complaints and decided to support some of them, but not all. We would like to apologize to Amanda Abbington and express our gratitude for her willingness to speak up and participate. We understand that this likely wasn't an easy step for her."
"Back then, the production team tried to tackle the problems as they saw them, but in the end, those efforts fell short. That's why it's crucial for us to enhance our current protocols."
In reply, Abbington stated that the verdict was a “validation of my claims” as well as a representation of “the many others who have reached out to me to share their worries about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing.”
In a written statement, Abbington expressed: "As the BBC mentioned in its announcement today, it wasn't easy for me to step forward and raise concerns about Giovanni Pernice's behavior towards me."
Amanda Abbington expressed that she views the outcome of the BBC’s investigation as a form of validation.
Since I reached out to the BBC, I’ve faced accusations of being dishonest, a source of conflict, and labeled as “crazy and unstable.” I've received threats of sexual violence and murder, and my workplace was even targeted with a bomb threat. My family and children have also endured threats and harassment.
Even though I faced terrible mistreatment, I’ve never regretted speaking out, and the apology from the BBC today confirms that my complaint was justified. This isn’t just a win for me; it’s also a victory for others who reached out to me after my complaint to share their own worries about their experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. I hope those who have felt hesitant to come forward will now feel more assured that their voices will be heard and taken seriously.
The BBC has asked me to have a meeting with their upper management, and I will be thinking about my decision regarding this opportunity.
"I'm really grateful for this apology. It also matters a lot to me that the BBC has recognized that the measures they implemented to help and safeguard both myself and previous contestants were insufficient."
"The most important thing at this point is that we've gained valuable insights and that the BBC follows through on their commitments to implement the necessary changes. This way, no one else has to go through the same difficult experience that I and others have faced."
A representative for Pernice expressed support for the review, noting that they are "happy to see that this six-month evaluation did not uncover any signs of threatening or abusive conduct by Giovanni."
Giovanni is thankful that most of the claims made against him to the BBC have not been supported, and he is eager to keep working on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season, she mentioned.
There were no results concerning physical aggression; however, it is understood that claims of verbal bullying and harassment were substantiated.
The show made its comeback on September 14 to celebrate its 20th anniversary, featuring a fresh lineup of celebrities. There were also some updates, such as the inclusion of chaperones to be present during all rehearsal sessions.
