Michelle Visage Defends Giovanni Pernice Amidst Past Controversy, Hopes for 'Strictly All Stars'

Michelle Visage has spoken out in defense of professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, characterizing their 2019 "Strictly Come Dancing" partnership as "fiery" and attributing its success to their mutual understanding.

Visage, who reached Blackpool Week with Pernice, stated that they maintained a strong friendship and that their dynamic provided them with an advantage in the competition. She recently expressed her desire for "Strictly" bosses to create an "All Stars" version of the show, ideally with her and Pernice participating.

Her comments come in the wake of controversy surrounding Pernice's 2023 partnership with celebrity Amanda Abbington. Abbington accused Pernice of "vile abuse," leading to a BBC investigation. The BBC's report concluded that while Pernice was cleared of the most serious allegations, some of his language could be "belittling," and his feedback was occasionally "overly negative," with profanity used during rehearsals.

Visage, however, maintained a positive view of her experience with Pernice. She described them as "equals" and views him as being "like a little brother." "I know how to handle him. He knows how to handle me. We had a fiery relationship and I loved it," Visage told the Daily Mail.

Visage is also advocating for a revival of "Strictly" featuring past contestants. "I beg all the commissioners. I'm like, 'listen, guys, it's time to do it.' If I did it again, he can't be my partner [because he left the show], but I would love it. I would dance with him again in a heartbeat," she said.

She noted that Pernice is currently living in Rome and is happy with his partner, Bianca Guaccero. He continues to participate in the Italian version of "Strictly," which Visage described as "20 times harder."

Regarding the new British "Strictly" hosting team of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, Visage expressed optimism. "I think they're all great people individually. And I think together they're going to make a great trio. It's going to be fun. It's going to be different, and people have to get over that it is going to be different, and it'll all fall in line," she commented, comparing the change to shifts in any other long-running show.

Visage, originally from New Jersey, gained a UK following as a judge on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and from her appearance on "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2015. She is also hosting a new YouTube fashion series, "Make It Iconic," in partnership with TK Maxx. The series features stylists competing to create outfits with a limited budget and time frame.

Visage also commented on the current climate for drag performers, emphasizing the ongoing need for advocacy. "The job of an ally is to keep fighting and keep pushing forward as our brothers and sisters did before us. Queer rights and LGBTQIA plus rights don't stop when regimes come in or people try to take it away or when it's good and the temperature is okay politically. The fight continues until all rights are equal," she stated.

"RuPaul's Drag Race UK," on which Visage appears, was recently dropped by the BBC due to "significant financial pressures" on the channel. Visage acknowledged the challenges facing the show and the broader drag community.