Dancer Giovanni Pernice has addressed claims that he did not offer his former Strictly Come Dancing partner Amanda Abbington breaks during rehearsals, stating that she was "mature enough to ask" for one. Pernice's comments come as he promotes his new book, "Taking The Lead," in which he details his departure from the BBC show and its handling of allegations against him.
The BBC investigated a total of 16 allegations concerning Pernice's conduct during the 2023 season. Of these, six were upheld, while ten more serious accusations were dismissed. Pernice expressed his frustration with the BBC's process, suggesting that some of the upheld allegations were "not very important to uphold."
"I guess she's quite mature enough to ask for a break if she wanted to," Pernice said of Abbington during a GB News appearance. He also noted that the language used in the rehearsal room was common to both parties.
Following the non-renewal of his Strictly contract, Pernice went on to win the Italian version of the show in 2024 with his girlfriend, Bianca Guaccero. He described this victory as a form of "revenge."
During a televised interview on "This Morning," Pernice clashed with hosts Craig Doyle and Christine Lampard when they pressed him about the allegations and his book. He maintained that his memoir was intended to thank his supporters and present his factual account, rather than to revisit the scandal. He stated that he waited until the BBC investigation concluded and his mental health improved before addressing the events.
Fans watching "This Morning" voiced their discomfort with the interview, criticizing the hosts for what they perceived as a harsh and biased line of questioning. Social media commentary suggested that the presenters were leaning towards Abbington's perspective and making Pernice appear uncomfortable.
Pernice reiterated that he was not sacked but that his contract was not renewed. He explained his approach to training different celebrities, noting that some require more pushing than others. He stated that his aim is to understand and push each celebrity as much as possible.
In response to the interview, a spokesperson for Amanda Abbington issued a statement asserting that Pernice's attempts to reframe the BBC investigation were "ludicrous." The statement highlighted that the BBC had apologized to Abbington and paid her "substantial compensation," suggesting this outcome spoke for itself. The statement also refuted Pernice's claim that the upheld findings related solely to the use of expletives.