Amanda Abbington has been accused of being “hellbent” on misrepresenting the findings of the Giovanni Pernice bullying review related to Strictly Come Dancing. The allegations emerged after Abbington’s public comments on the review, which aimed to address claims of bullying involving the dancer. Critics have suggested that her statements could distort the conclusions drawn from the review, prompting a backlash from those close to the situation. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the show’s environment and the treatment of its participants.
ChatGPT
Amanda Abbington, 50, left Strictly Come Dancing during week six in October last year, later accusing her partner, Giovanni Pernice, of inappropriate conduct. Her departure and subsequent allegations have sparked significant discussion and controversy regarding the environment on the show.
Giovanni Pernice has been cleared of the majority of allegations made against him by Amanda Abbington. Following her departure from Strictly Come Dancing, Abbington expressed relief that a cancer scare allowed her to leave the show and stop training with Pernice.
A spokeswoman for Pernice stated to MailOnline that the BBC concluded its review nearly a week ago. She expressed concern over Abbington’s ongoing misrepresentation of the review’s findings in media interviews. The spokeswoman noted, “Giovanni is focusing on his job on Ballando con le Stelle and supporting his partner Bianca, and hopes that Ms. Abbington can soon accept the review’s findings and look to the future.”
Amanda Abbington cited personal reasons for her departure from Strictly Come Dancing, revealing that she discovered two lumps in her breast on the morning of her exit. In an interview with The Sun, she shared, “By my final week, on the Thursday morning, I was in the shower and I found two lumps. I’d gotten the all-clear after a mammogram a couple of months before.”
During rehearsals for a cha-cha-cha with Giovanni Pernice, Abbington struggled to concentrate, claiming that he told her she “couldn’t get it” and was “useless.” She described how Pernice “refused to even look at” her, prompting her to inform him about the lumps and her decision to leave rehearsals for a hospital visit before ultimately quitting the show.
Amanda Abbington described the discovery of the lumps as “the catalyst I’d been sort of waiting for,” stating that she believed leaving Strictly Come Dancing was a healthier option than remaining in an environment that made her unhappy. She later revealed that the lumps were found to be benign.
Her recent comments come just days after Giovanni Pernice was cleared of the majority of allegations made against him in a five-month BBC inquiry.
Amanda Abbington claimed that Giovanni Pernice called her a “vegetable” during training after he met her fiancé, who uses a wheelchair. Pernice explained that the comment referred to Abbington’s body posture. The BBC did not uphold Abbington’s bullying allegation regarding the “vegetable” comment during its inquiry into the allegations against him.
The six-month BBC investigation into Giovanni Pernice concluded on Monday, clearing him of the majority of claims regarding threatening and physically abusive behavior. Pernice, 34, expressed that he was “pleased” with the outcome, which found in his favor on all but six of the 17 allegations made by Amanda Abbington.
Following her abrupt exit from the show, Abbington accused Pernice of “mean” and “cruel” behavior. While the BBC investigation did not find evidence of threatening or physically abusive conduct, it did uphold some of Abbington’s complaints regarding verbal bullying and harassment.
The BBC acknowledged Amanda Abbington’s concerns that Giovanni Pernice occasionally provided her with overly negative feedback. In response to the findings of the six-month review, a spokesperson for Pernice stated, “We are pleased that this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behavior by Giovanni.”
The statement added that Pernice is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations made to the BBC were not upheld and expressed his eagerness to continue his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season.
On Monday, Amanda Abbington stated, “Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.” Her comments reflect her perspective on the investigation’s findings and her decision to speak out about her experiences.
Abbington added, “It’s not just a vindication for me; it’s a vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaint to express concerns about their own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing.” This emphasizes her belief that her actions may resonate with others who have faced similar issues on the show.
Amanda Abbington expressed her hope that those who have felt unable to speak out will now feel more confident that they will be listened to and believed. She stated, “This apology means a great deal to me. So too does the fact that the BBC has acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were ‘not enough.'”
Abbington emphasized the importance of learning from these experiences and ensuring that the BBC follows through on its promises to prevent others from undergoing similar ordeals.
Giovanni Pernice left Strictly last April after the BBC announced the inquiry into the allegations. He had been offered a new contract for the 2024 series—marking the show’s 20th anniversary—but chose to step away. Currently, he is appearing on the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle, where he is partnered with singer and actress Bianca Guaccero.
Newsafro.com has reached out to representatives for Amanda Abbington and the BBC for comment regarding the situation.
