Giovanni Pernice has insisted he bears no ill will towards Amanda Abbington after being cleared of most bullying allegations in a BBC investigation.
The former Come Dancing pro, 34, appeared on Lorraine on Tuesday to talk about the investigation, after telling the full story of what happened between him and Amanda Abbington to the Mail’s Katie Hind. Read the interview here.
Giovanni admitted he would have a “nice cup of tea” with the 50-year-old actress if he were in the same room with her now so they could talk things out.
But he denied the pair had ever fought in the rehearsal room, claiming they “never had an argument” and that he didn’t know she was uncomfortable until she made the accusations months later.
During the interview, Giovanni also hinted at the possibility of him returning to Strictly, after he left as a result of the investigation.
Giovanni Pernice claimed he has no ill will towards Amanda Abbington after being cleared of most bullying allegations in a BBC investigation in an appearance in Lorraine on Tuesday.
Giovanni admitted he would have a “nice cup of tea” with the 50-year-old actress (pictured on Newsnight) if he were in the same room with her now so they could talk things out.
Asked on Lorraine, which was presented by Christine Lampard on Tuesday, if he would like to apologize to Amanda if he were in a room with her now, Giovanni said: “I think we’d have a nice cup of tea, us.” We will chat and talk about what happened in that room.
“It’s very difficult, because at that time everything was perfect.”
Giovanni added: ‘Amanda and I never had an argument.
“Yes, she obviously says she was deeply uncomfortable, and that was after six months, but why didn’t you come at that time?”
He continued: “You’d come to me and say, ‘We’re not getting along,’ then I’d probably have a chat like any other relationship, we’d chat and talk about it and try to make it better.
‘But realistically, Amanda and I never had an argument. We always argue about the steps. Yes, we had meetings with the BBC, but we always moved forward from there. I had a meeting with the BBC with all my other partners.
Despite being cleared and expressing that it had been a difficult year, Giovanni went on to say that he supported Amanda speaking out if she thought something had happened, and said that anyone else should do so in that situation.
“It’s nice that Amanda came forward to talk about something she thought had happened,” he said.
The former Strictly Come Dancing professional, 34, appeared in Lorraine on Tuesday to talk about the investigation, after telling the full story to the Mail’s Katie Hind.
Asked on Lorraine, which was presented by Christine Lampard on Tuesday, if he would like to apologize to Amanda if he were in a room with her now, Giovanni said: “I think we’d have a nice cup of tea.”
During the interview, Giovanni also hinted at the possibility of him returning to Strictly, after he left as a result of the investigation.
Just days after Giovanni and Amanda’s Strictly trip last year, bosses called them in to question them about the foul language they were heard using towards each other.
‘It’s important that if something doesn’t feel right, it’s important that you talk to someone. I’m not against the fact that the investigation started in the first place, because everyone, literally everyone, if they have a problem, should go and talk to someone in production on this case.
“So I think he did the right thing. Yes, and I’m glad the investigation is over and we got results.’
At the end of the chat with Christine, Giovanni alluded to the fact that a return to Strictly was not completely ruled out.
He said: “I think right now I’m very focused on Dancing with the Stars Italia.”
‘I’ve got a tour in January, so I’ll definitely be back in the UK from January to July, and then who knows. Never say never.’
Speaking to Mail reporter Katie Hind over the weekend, Giovanni spoke about what he felt the relationship between him and Amanda was like in the rehearsal room.
BBC bosses finally published their report into Giovanni’s behavior on Monday, clearing him of more serious allegations of physical assault but confirming verbal harassment and intimidation.
Amanda appeared in a television interview with Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy to claim that her bullying allegations against Giovanni were “sexual in nature”.
Meanwhile, Giovanni said he was “pleased” to have been cleared of “threatening and abusive behaviour”.
The report also told how they had confirmed six of Amanda’s 17 accusations. The report said Giovanni, a perfectionist, “was swearing and using what could be described as derogatory language,” which it said amounted to bullying behavior.
The BBC apologized to the former Sherlock actress and also thanked her for coming forward to raise her complaints.
Reporting into the six-month investigation which cost license payers more than £250,000, investigators found the Italian dance star had used derogatory language. On another occasion he said: ‘I’m tired of this, if you want to look shit I don’t care.’
The panel also upheld Amanda’s complaint that Giovanni would become frustrated with her while teaching her to dance. However, it was also revealed that he told her: ‘You have so much talent and you’re not using it.’
On another occasion he told him: ‘I don’t know how to ask you anymore’, while in another comment he told him ‘it’s been four days and I don’t know what to do’, which was also considered illegal. behavior.
In another outburst, Giovanni said ‘fuck’ while teaching him how to do a routine.
Meanwhile, the allegation that the Sicilian-born ballroom dancing star had also given negative comments was confirmed, an example of which was him throwing his arms in the air and saying ‘fuck’. As a result, Giovanni was told by the BBC that he was not sufficiently accommodating to Amanda’s needs.
Of the two sexual complaints admitted, one saw Giovanni grab his crotch and utter an obscene comment.
He also told his dance partner that he “wanted to fuck her.” That comment came after Amanda made a big move in the training studio and Giovanni was excited.
Giovanni is currently competing on Ballando Con Le Stelle’ (Dancing with the Stars Italy) alongside his famous contestant, actress and singer Bianca Guaccero.
Although the BBC dismissed many of Amanda’s serious accusations, they apologized. In a statement issued on Monday, they said: “The BBC has concluded its review of the complaints made by Amanda Abbington against Giovanni Pernice.
‘We have evaluated the complaints and have accepted some, but not all, of the complaints submitted. We want to apologize to Amanda Abbington and thank her for coming forward and participating.
“We know this would not have been an easy thing to do.”
In response, Amanda said: ‘As the BBC has indicated in its statement today, my decision to come forward and complain about Giovanni Pernice’s conduct towards me was not an easy one to make.
“In the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I have been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and ‘crazy and unstable.’