by Amanda Abbington is said to have been left upset by a phone call from Giovanni Pernice amid the ongoing events. Strictly Come Dancing scandal.
Professional dancer Pernice has been embroiled in backstage controversy after Abbington complained to the BBC about his behavior while partnering him on the 2023 series.
Although the investigation was reported to have concluded last month, with Pernice about to learn the results, it was then revealed that Sherlock The Abbington star was questioned for a second time about her claims amid “new evidence”.
It is now claimed that Pernice tried to call Abbington amid these reports, a source said The Sun: “Giovanni tried to call Amanda a few weeks ago. Nobody knows why.”
“They haven’t spoken since she left the show, so it’s a strange thing to call him, especially with an inquiry going on. Amanda didn’t want to talk to him and blocked his number. She has nothing to do with Giovanni.”
The source claimed that Pernice tried to call Abbington only once. The Independent Abbington and Pernice have been contacted for comment. Pernice has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Abbington is believed to have spoken to BBC bosses again after she alleged the dancer made sexual comments in the rehearsal room. According to The Sunas the BBC neared the conclusion of its investigation, Abbington shared texts suggesting that Pernice was “going beyond what is acceptable”.
Last month, in an interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy for Channel 4 News, Abbington claimed that the show’s producers installed cameras in her rehearsal room after she raised concerns about Pernice.
“Every Friday, after the next five weeks, the producer would say, on Friday, ‘We watched the film back, we are shocked and horrified, we are sorry’. That was to face me on Friday when we go in and do the camera exercise,” she said.
“It’s out there. There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I’m not the one blocking it. I said that anyone can watch it, but he [Giovanni] he doesn’t want anyone to see it, which suggests he has nothing to hide.”
When Guru-Murthy asked her if she was talking about bullying, she replied: “Yes, it is bullying and it is aggressive behaviour, there were other things that were very upsetting, which you manage in the room at the time, because you are a woman. , and you have to manage those things otherwise, what do you do?”
Guru-Murthy, who appeared on the same series of it Strictly to which Abington replied: “I haven’t heard, not from you, from someone else, of an example of, I suppose you would call, disgraceful sexual behaviour, is that right?”
A positive Abbington replied: “Yes. I mean, you know, one of the many things.”
Abbington quit suddenly Strictly five episodes in the 2023 season citing medical reasons at the time. The actress also said that she received “death threats” and “rape threats not only to myself, but to my daughter, and the death threats to my son.”
A BBC spokesman said: “Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and a fair trial so it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals. However, when issues are raised with us we always take them very seriously and have appropriate processes in place to manage this. As we have said before, we would advise people not to be content with speculation.
“More generally, the BBC and BBC Studios take a duty of care very seriously. Our processes on Strictly Come Dancing are updated every year, under constant review and last week we announced further steps to further strengthen the interest and support of the show.”
Pernice has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In a statement in response to the Channel 4 interview, the dancer’s spokesperson said: “We are fully co-operating with the BBC’s review process. All parties have been asked to respect this process and not speak to the media before it is completed. We will continue to respect the integrity of the investigation and believe it is the proper forum to review all the evidence.
“As part of the evidence-based review, the BBC has shared with us the allegations they have been able to substantiate. They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, which were made to Channel 4, in any way shape or form. Giovanni denies any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour, and having provided his evidence to the BBC, he is confident the review will prove that.”
On June 10, the BBC announced that Pernice – who has been on the show since 2015 – would not be participating in the upcoming 2024 season. Weeks later, Graziano Di Prima was fired from the show after his abuse of his celebrity partner, Zara McDermott, in 2023 was made public.
Di Prima has since called the claims levied against him “outrageous” and “false”.
