Questions have been raised over why Giovanni Pernice “resigned” from Strictly amid allegations of “serious workplace misconduct” while coaching three celebrities.
He was reported to have left the program on Thursday night and the following day it emerged that the BBC had launched an internal investigation just weeks after saying they would not investigate the matter further.
Could this be the reason Giovanni, 33, decided to walk away from the show?
Sun reports that it is being “investigated over serious allegations made by “three traumatized contestants.”
Amanda Abbington, 48, has been named along with two unnamed contestants, and the Corporation is now “gathering evidence” in the wake of the damning allegations.
Is this why Strictly’s Giovanni REALLY quit the show? Professional dancer ‘investigated over serious complaints made by three traumatized contestants as BBC conducts internal review’, weeks after claiming they would not investigate
The Italian pro, 33, (pictured) has been accused of being “too tough” behind the scenes by several of his former celebrity partners, including Ranvir Singh, 46, Laura Whitmore, 39, and Amanda Abbington, 52, (pictured), who abruptly left the series last year amid speculation that the couple did not get along
The Italian pro had previously been accused of being “too tough” behind the scenes by several of his former celebrity partners, including Amanda, as well as Ranvir Singh, 46, and Laura Whitmore, 39.
Giovanni previously defended his training style, saying: “I’m definitely a perfectionist.”
‘Like everyone, I like to win. But for me it’s more about getting the best out of the partners, especially if I see that there is talent there. I want to do my job correctly.’
A spokeswoman for Carter Ruck, who charges £700 an hour, told The Sun: “Numerous serious complaints have been made to the BBC, which is now in the process of gathering evidence.”
“As this is still an ongoing matter, no further comment can be made at this time.”
The BBC said two months ago that they would not investigate Giovanni’s behavior towards Amanda.
A spokesperson said at the time: “There is constant dialogue between the senior production team and the contestants to ensure any concerns are resolved quickly.”
It comes after it emerged he was leaving Strictly amid a firestorm surrounding his training label.
It is claimed the scrutiny became “too much” when three of her former dance partners criticized her “militant” approach.
Giovanni has faced a wave of scrutiny since his dance partner Amanda (pictured) dramatically quit last year.
Laura Whitmore (pictured) and Giovanni pictured. Amanda is said to have met up with the presenter to talk about her experience with the dancer during the competition in 2022.
The professional dancer is said to want a “fresh start” but is “convinced he has done nothing wrong” after his last famous partner, Amanda Abbington, 52, led the charge by accusing him of “difficult behaviour.” during the training.
Amanda, who dramatically withdrew from last year’s competition and was diagnosed with PTSD after the show, is said to have met up with Laura and Ranvir earlier this year for an “emotional summit” to “compare notes” about the time they spent working with him. .
While the BBC was supportive and interested in hiring the professional dancer for its 20th anniversary series, Giovanni decided not to return after eight years on the show.
“Gio feels the scrutiny on him has become too much and now it’s time to start again,” a source told The Sun.
‘He wants to focus on other TV projects and feels he has achieved all he can on Strictly, having won the trophy in 2021 and reaching the final an unprecedented four times.
“He remains adamant that he has done nothing wrong other than being a tough taskmaster, but he knows his coaching style is not to everyone’s taste, especially in these times.”
The source added that Giovanni has many “interesting projects” in the pipeline, which is his priority now.
Giovanni previously defended his training style, saying: “I’m definitely a perfectionist.”
‘Like everyone, I like to win. But for me it’s more about getting the best out of the partners, especially if I see that there is talent there. I want to do my job correctly.’
A BBC spokesperson declined to comment on Giovanni’s departure. They told MailOnline: “Professional dancers for 2024 will be announced in due course.”
MailOnline has contacted Giovanni’s representatives for comment.
In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she “cried every day” and felt “uncomfortable” while training with him.
She later wrote for HuffPost UK in 2018: “I’m not ready to talk in depth about my experience on the show yet.
‘They put me with a dance partner who I felt extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt devastated, I cried every day. And at the end I was really devastated, both mentally and physically.”
Ranvir Singh (pictured) and Giovanni in the photo. The Good Morning Britain presenter complained about Giovanni to producers in 2020, during his time on the show (pictured in 2020).
Giovanni is also believed to have had a falling out with his 2018 celebrity partner, Faye Tozer.
Former 1990s band Steps member Faye Tozer is said to have had difficulty working with him and broke down in tears after an appearance together on the spin-off show, It Takes Two.
Meanwhile, his 2022 teammate, Richie Anderson, has unfollowed him on Instagram.
But other former partners have also come out to support him, including Debbie McGee, the widow of magician Paul Daniels, who was paired with him in 2017.
Shortly after Amanda’s accusations, Debbie shared a beaming photo of her and Giovanni taken backstage during their period together. “Happy memories, Giovanni and I had the best times on Strictly,” she said in the caption.
