Giovanni Pernice shared an emotional statement with fans in the early hours of Sunday morning, with the former Strictly Come Dancing pro blasting ‘untrue stories’
Giovanni Pernice has rejected “the latest accusations” made against him and once again vowed to clear his name.
The Italian dancer, 33, took to social media in the early hours of Sunday morning to discuss “totally untrue stories” and thank fans for their continued support amid the ongoing BBC investigation.
Giovanni – who won’t be appearing on this year’s series of Strictly – has been embroiled in controversy for months due to allegations about his behaviour during his last stint on the BBC dance competition – allegations he has strongly denied.
He was partnered with actress Amanda Abbington, who left the show early and later claimed she suffered from PTSD. It’s reported that the BBC launched an internal investigation after receiving complaints from Amanda and other previous celebrity dance partners.
On Saturday night, further reports connected to Giovanni’s alleged behaviour on the Strictly set emerged – with the professional dancer quickly shutting them down. Taking to Instagram in the early hours of Sunday morning, Giovanni shared a statement with his followers.
The star – who lifted the Glitterball trophy with Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2019 – wrote: “To my fans and followers, Every week, there are totally untrue stories about me in the media. As you know, I have always rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour. The latest accusations are simply false.
“I am cooperating fully with the ongoing BBC investigation, which will determine the truth. As requested, I have stayed silent, but I am looking forward to the conclusion of the investigation and ultimately clearing my name and establishing the truth. I am so happy to be back on tour. Thank you all for your continued support – you messages and love mean so very much to me. I will hopefully see many of you very soon and I look forward to clearing my name. With love, Giovanni.”
Blue singer Duncan James was one of the first to comment on Giovanni’s post, telling his friend: “Stay strong my friend. The truth always comes out in the end. Sending u love my bro.” “Stay strong. Your dedication and incredible talent will always shine brighter,” Gillian McKeith penned, as a fan added: “Stay strong Gio. We love you. Xxx.”
The cast for the upcoming series of Strictly was recently announced, with Giovanni’s name noticeably absent from the list of returning professional dancers. After the news broke of his abrupt departure from the show, Giovanni shared a video on his Instagram Stories showing him back in dance training.
In the clip, Giovanni can be seen leading a series of group dance sessions. He simply added three heart emojis to the post, defiantly signalling to fans that he isn’t giving up on his love of dance. His video was also shared on the official Ballando account, and fans were quick to voice their excitement about seeing Giovanni back on the dance floor.
This follows rumours suggesting he would not rejoin the 2024 cast as a leaked internal memo didn’t include his name amongst this year’s roster of professional dancers. Giovanni made his Strictly debut in 2015 reaching the final with Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote. Most notable achievement till date was when he lifted the glitterball trophy along with EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, who became the first deaf contestant ever to clinch the win.
Previously, Giovanni rejected the accusations of exhibiting “abusive or threatening behaviour” and has expressed his eagerness to clear his name. The legal firm representing those complaining about him mentioned that the broadcaster is currently “gathering evidence”; BBC, however, hasn’t confirmed yet if an investigation is underway.
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