Giovanni Pernice, a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has reportedly quit the show after several controversial pairings that have brought his training style under scrutiny. Some of his ex-partners have complained about his ‘militant’ approach during rehearsals, with issues arising from his alleged rudeness towards Laura Whitmore in 2016. Their partnership ended after 7 weeks, with reports of tension and dissatisfaction. Laura later expressed discomfort with the situation, claiming she felt broken both mentally and physically by the end of the competition.
In 2018, Giovanni was paired with Steps singer Faye Tozer, with rumors of strained relations behind the scenes. Reports suggested that Faye was feeling exhausted due to the relentless training, and there were speculations of disagreements between the two. Despite the challenges, they made it to the final, narrowly missing out on the trophy. Rumors of Giovanni’s romantic involvement with Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts emerged after the series, putting an end to rumors of a possible relationship with Faye.
Michelle Visage, who partnered with Giovanni in 2019, also faced difficulties in their rehearsals, with reports of them ‘locking horns’ due to their strong personalities. Michelle addressed the rumors, highlighting their shared intense nature as Italians, but asserting that their relationship was ultimately strong and supportive. Some speculated tension was further fueled by their shared star sign and perfectionist tendencies. However, Michelle clarified that Giovanni was her best friend on the show, contradicting negative reports about their partnership.
Giovanni’s most recent controversial pairing was with actress Amanda Abbington in 2023, which ended abruptly after just four weeks. Amanda was reportedly left shaken by Giovanni’s aggressive training style and decided to leave the competition due to health reasons. Some sources claimed that Amanda had issues handling Giovanni’s militaristic approach, leading her to consider quitting before the first live show. Despite public speculation, Amanda revealed later that her departure was due to personal reasons, including a diagnosis of PTSD, and expressed gratitude for the experience.
After these episodes, Giovanni’s alleged decision to quit the show was reportedly driven by a desire to focus on other television projects. The dancer, who had won the Strictly trophy in 2021 and reached the final four times, felt that he had achieved everything he could on the show. While some former partners praised their positive experiences working with Giovanni, others raised concerns about his training style. His exit from Strictly Come Dancing marks a significant change in his career trajectory as he explores new opportunities in the television industry.
