GIOVANNI Pernice has insisted he was “just being professional” after a BBC report into the Strictly bullying scandal upheld six allegations against him.

The bombshell report found the pro dancer using swear words, “belittling” language and giving negative feedback.

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Giovanni Pernice has insisted he was ‘just being professional’ following the Strictly bullying scandal

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In an Instagram post this afternoon, Giovanni said he was ‘happy’ with the BBC reportCredit: Instagram

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Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington pulled out of the show last yearCredit: Rex

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A spokesman said Giovanni is ‘relieved’ after being clearedCredit: Instagram/@giovannipernice
And the report concludes there were two moments of “inappropriate behaviour of sexual banter in the workplace”.

These incidents were made and received consensually as jokes, humour and compliments of Amanda Abbington’s dancing, the report finds.

In a recorded Instagram post this afternoon, Giovanni said he was “happy” as “none of the serious allegations” had been upheld against him.

The Italian added dancing is a “very difficult thing to do” and that sometimes he gets “frustrated”.

The 34-year-old claimed he always wanted “to get the best” out of his partners and “it’s called being professional”.

Giovanni said: “I appreciate that dancing is a very difficult thing to do.

“It’s a, it’s erm, it’s a sport, it’s something that is difficult in every possible way and sometimes you get frustrated, you know, as a teacher, as a dancer, as a performer.

“But the only reason why you get frustrated is because you care about what you do.”

He continued: “You know as a professional, as a teacher, I care about, I want to get the best out of my partner, and sometimes I do get frustrated.

“I think everybody around the world does the same thing, it’s called being professional and I love, I love doing that.”

Strictly fans spot feud between celeb and Shirley Ballas saying ‘he looked furious’ with judge’s comments
The dancer said he was looking forward to “carrying on to do what I was born to do”.

Pernice went on to thank fans for their support, saying “I love you all”.

The BBC has now apologised to Amanda over the Strictly bullying scandal.

Her claims earlier this year threw the broadcaster’s flagship show into crisis forcing it to launch a probe to limit the damage.

Giovanni Pernice’s full statement

Hello everyone, it’s me.

It’s over. It’s finished.

Six months, seven months of all of this. Seven months of reading everyday things in the newspaper and not be able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review, was a difficult time. It was difficult because, you know, reading stuff that were untrue, wasn’t the nicest time of my life lets be honest.

But today im happy because, you know, at the beginning there were very very serious allegations thrown out at me but as in today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld.

All the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld.

And today is a day, you know when we can all reflect because, you see, I appreciate that dancing is a very difficult thing to do. It’s a, it’s erm, it’s a sport, it’s something that is difficult in every possible way and sometimes you get frustrated, you know, as a teacher, as a dancer, as a performer. But the only reason why you get frustrated is because you care about what you do.

You know as a professional, as a teacher, I care about, I want to get the best out of my partner, and sometimes I do get frustrated. I think everybody around the world does the same thing, it’s called being professional and I love, I love doing that. You know even now with Bianca, I get frustrated, I think it’s a normal thing but then you get out the best and the results come forward.

But im happy because none of this serious allegation has been upheld.

I have to be honest, and with all of you because without, without your love, your messages, your support, your constant support, I don’t know if I would be able to even make this message right now.

I’m happy because today I can carry on to do what I was born to do, and I love to do which is entertain all of you, because this is my life. This is what I do, so im always grateful to all of you and just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, and saying that I love you all and always, always thank you.

Gio x

Amanda pulled out of Strictly Come Dancing last year citing “personal reasons”.

She later claimed she was subject to a “toxic environment” and “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying”.

And celebs including Laura Whitmore, Zara McDermott and Ranvir Singh all came forward with fresh claims.

The former Strictly contestant said she feels “vindicated” by the BBC assessing and upholding “some, but not all” of her complaints about Pernice’s behaviour.

But in a written statement, a spokesperson for Giovanni Pernice said: “We are pleased that this six-month review has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour by Giovanni.

“Giovanni is relieved that the overwhelming majority of allegations out to the BBC have not been upheld and looks forward to continuing his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season.”

It comes after the report concluded that Giovanni was not abusive, did not make threats and was not intimidating – and there was no aggressive or physical contact between him and Amanda.

Amanda had complained that Giovanni sent her an inappropriate video on WhatsApp.

But the BBC did not upheld this complaint and did not find anything sexually inappropriate.

BBC boss Charlotte Moore said: “There were a number of complaints under our bullying and harassment policy.

“A number of those complaints have been upheld. Not all of them, but a number of them have been upheld.

It comes as…

BBC apologises to Amanda Abbington over Strictly bullying scandal
Amanda says she’s glad for apology but it isn’t enough
Giovanni breaks silence after report clears him of almost all allegations
Amanda reveals trolls said they’d kill her and sent her bomb threats

“I’m not able to go into further detail on that, and there are very good reasons for that.

“It’s probably worth me just laying out the confidentiality of a complaints process.

“I think it is absolutely integral to the complaints process, and confidentiality needs to be respected out of fairness to everybody involved.

“But of course, we’re also trying to balance that with the desire to be open and to be transparent about the way our complaints processes work.

STRICTLY’S GIO CLEARED

By Issy Sampson

IT’S been a tense wait for Giovanni Pernice, but today the BBC’s official investigation into the Strictly Come Dancing bullying row finally cleared him of almost all of the abuse allegations.

Amanda Abbington has released a statement saying she’s not happy with the outcome – but now the BBC needs to draw a line under the whole ugly situation and move on.

The scandal has seen two dancers leave the show – and more accusations thrown around than a celebrity in a jive.

It’s also seen trolls send Amanda death threats and threaten her children – vile abuse that nobody should ever have to suffer through for simply quitting a TV show and speaking up.

Clearly, Amanda went through a lot and considers the way that Giovanni treated her to be unacceptable – and both the BBC and the dancer need to learn lessons from this situation.

The BBC has already made changes to training sessions, making sure dancers are never alone with the celebs and a chaperone is present at all times.

The show’s pros are no doubt a lot more cautious in their teaching methods.

But this investigation needs to change the way all reality shows are run backstage – duty of care towards both stars taking part and backstage staff needs to be increased and upheld.

Because if Strictly meets another scandal this big, it could be too damaged to survive.

“Obviously in this case, there’s been lots of media speculation and lots of interest.

“So I think it’s really important that we’re as open and transparent as we can be about that process, which is why we’ve issued the statement.”

The review into Abbington’s complaints about her Strictly professional dance partner Pernice was launched earlier this year.

Pernice, who is not part of this year’s Strictly professional dancing line-up and has since joined an Italian dance show, previously rejected “any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour”.

The BBC said on Monday: “We have assessed the complaints and we have upheld some, but not all, of the complaints made.

“We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part.

“We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.

“At the time, although the production team took steps to address the issues as they understood them, ultimately these were not enough.

“This is why the measures we have taken to further strengthen our existing protocols are so important.”

Giovanni Pernice Strictly scandal timeline

October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.

Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “Amanda… I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.”

Amanda then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.

Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.

November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.

January 2024: Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.

The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.

The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting

March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.

Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.

The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.

May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses

He leaves the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday

The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.

In a statement ahead of the report being published, Amanda Abbington said: “I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.

“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.

“I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.”

She added that she is “considering” meeting senior management, after they offered that to her.

Amanda also said: “This apology means a great deal to me.

“So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were ‘not enough’.

“What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did.”

The show returned on September 14 for its 20th anniversary with a new cast of celebrities, and some changes including having chaperones present “at all times” during rehearsals.

Sherlock actress Amanda broke down in an emotional TV interview about her experiences on the dance show earlier this year.

She claimed she was being blocked by both Giovanni and the BBC from seeing 50 hours of footage from their rehearsals.

The BBC subsequently began “evidence gathering” in the wake of the damning allegations, which included claims from two other stars.

However, Giovanni, 33, was adamant he had a “bombshell” recording in which Amanda apologised for being a “nightmare” in training.

Giovanni, who quit in May, has since landed a new job on the Italian version of the show – proudly announcing the news on his Instagram last week.

He had performed on the UK version of the show for nine years and had been a fan favourite.

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Amanda Abbington said: ‘I’ve never regretted coming forward’Credit: Channel 4

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Giovanni Pernice quit the show in May earlier this yearCredit: Getty

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Giovanni performed on the show for nine yearsCredit: PA

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Giovanni Pernice ‘looks forward to continuing his work on Dancing With The Stars in Italy this season’, a spokesman saidCredit: The Mega Agency

Amanda Abbington statement in full

In a statement, Amanda said: “As the BBC has indicated today in its statement, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy thing to do.

“In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being ‘mad and unstable’.

“I’ve also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat was sent to my place of work.

“My family and children have also been subjected to threats and intimidation.

“Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.

“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.

“I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed.

“The BBC has invited me to meet with senior management and this is something I will now be considering.”

Amanda added: “This apology means a great deal to me.

“So too does the fact that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that were put in place to support and protect me and past contestants were ‘not enough’.

“What matters most now is that lessons have been learned and that the BBC makes the changes they’ve promised, to ensure others don’t experience the same ordeal that I and others like me did.”