Amanda Abbington has opened up about a difficult experience she had while working with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice on Strictly Come Dancing. She revealed that she held a summit with other former contestants of the show to swap stories of mistreatment they allegedly experienced while partnered with Pernice. Abbington described feeling like she ‘lost all sense of reality’ during her time in rehearsals with him, and the emotional toll it took on her. The group of celebrities she met with all shared similar stories of negative experiences, leading Abbington to consider taking further action against the BBC after the Corporation apologized to her for the complaints she raised about Pernice.
The initial complaints made by Abbington led to an investigation by the BBC, which upheld six of the 17 allegations against Pernice. These included instances of Pernice using swearing and belittling language, giving overly negative feedback, and displaying frustration towards Abbington. Despite some allegations being dismissed, including the most serious claims of physical aggression, the BBC apologized to Abbington for the mistreatment she experienced. Pernice’s spokesperson disputed Abbington’s interpretation of the report and defended the dancer’s reputation, highlighting that he was cleared of threatening and abusive behavior.
The investigation into Pernice’s conduct revealed instances of negative feedback, belittling language, and inappropriate remarks made towards Abbington during their time together on Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC found that Pernice did not adapt enough to Abbington’s needs and upheld allegations of verbal bullying and harassment. Pernice expressed relief that the majority of claims against him were dismissed, emphasizing his focus on his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy. Despite the difficult year she experienced, Abbington stood by her decision to come forward and raise concerns about Pernice’s behavior, even in the face of backlash and accusations against her credibility.
The complaints raised by Abbington prompted the BBC to conduct a review into Pernice’s behavior, resulting in apologies being issued to Abbington for the mistreatment she faced. The investigation acknowledged some of Abbington’s allegations and highlighted the importance of her coming forward despite the challenges she encountered. The process was challenging for both Abbington and Pernice, with the dancer expressing relief that the review had come to an end and expressing gratitude for the support he received from his family, friends, colleagues, and fans. Abbington’s decision to speak out about her experiences sheds light on the complexities of navigating difficult situations in the entertainment industry and the importance of standing up against mistreatment.
