Graziano Di Prima has reportedly returned to his £6-an-hour job in Sicily after being fired from Strictly Come Dancing.
The professional dancer, 31, was axed from the BBC show following reports he “punched and kicked” his ex-partner Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals last year.
After fleeing the UK to return to his native Italy with his wife Giada, a fellow dancer who stars on the Italian version of Strictly, Graziano “took a job on a farm, ploughing fields, living with cows and picking grapes”.
Zara broke her silence on the allegations last week, when she took to Instagram to share that while much of her time on Strictly “was everything I could have dreamed of” inside the training room with Graziano, there were “particular incidents that are incredibly distressing”.
The allegations came to light after crew members presented videos of incidents in the training room to BBC human resources executives investigating Graziano’s co-star Giovanni Pernice amid bullying allegations from fellow cast member Amanda Abbington.
Graziano Di Prima, 31, has reportedly returned to work at his £6-an-hour job in Sicily after being axed from Strictly Come Dancing.
The professional dancer was axed from the BBC show following reports he “punched and kicked” his ex-partner Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals last year.
Graziano “has told friends he is mentally broken” after a video emerged of his behaviour with Zara inside the rehearsal room, according to Sun.
A source said: ‘Graziano has lost everything. He is shattered and filled with remorse. He knows, quite rightly, that there is no going back in the UK showbiz. His career on Strictly Dancing is over.
‘He has run away back home and is living on a farm, earning a pittance and engaging in manual labor.
“He says he literally lives next door to cows – it’s a staggering fall from grace.”
MailOnline has contacted Graziano’s representatives for comment.
This comes after MailOnline revealed that Strictly production staff raised concerns about Graziano’s behaviour last year, but bosses only went so far as to issue him silent warnings.
The group expected him to be sacked immediately. They are said to be furious that their complaints were ignored, meaning the abuse against Zara was allowed to continue. Graziano has even been booked for the upcoming 2024 series of Strictly.
The source told The Mirror that the matter “was resolved at that point to everyone’s satisfaction” and that “a senior producer asked Zara if she was okay at the time.”
After fleeing the UK to return to his native Italy, Graziano “has taken a job on a farm, ploughing fields, living with cows and picking grapes.”
Zara broke her silence on the allegations last week, when she took to Instagram to share that while much of her time on Strictly “was everything I could have dreamed of” inside the training room with Graziano, there were “particular incidents that are incredibly distressing”.
Graziano ‘told friends he’s mentally broken’ after video emerged of his behaviour with Zara inside the rehearsal room
MailOnline revealed that Strictly production staff raised concerns about Graziano’s behaviour last year, but bosses only went so far as to issue him silent warnings.
Zara shared that while much of her time on Strictly “was everything I could have dreamed of” inside the training room with Graziano there were “particular incidents that are incredibly distressing”.
The source added: “He used choice language, was tough in training and was spoken to by producers about the way he addressed people. He understood he was being given a warning and his behaviour needed to change.”
It wasn’t until staff got their hands on a video purportedly showing Graziano repeatedly hitting Zara, nine months after her initial complaint, that he was fired.
Zara broke her silence on the matter, writing: “I felt it was only right to post something about the recent media reports,” Zara began. “Strictly is one of the most magical shows on television and one I’ve dreamed of being on since I was a little girl.”
“When I was invited to take part in the show, it was like a childhood dream had come true. I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly would entail and I put my all into it.”
“I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to give whatever was necessary.”
“And so much of my experience on Strictly was everything I could have dreamed of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes, as well as my fellow contestants, were amazing.
‘However, my experience inside the training room was very different. There have been reports made about the treatment I received on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents that are incredibly distressing to watch.
Zara explained that she did not report the incidents at the time because she was “afraid” of suffering negative reactions.
Zara wrote that “my experience inside the training room was very different. There have been reports about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some of the incidents.”
YoInstead, it was the junior production staff who came forward to share what they had witnessed during the investigation into the professional dancer. Giovanni Pernice It was taking place.
A source from the show told MailOnline: “There were multiple occasions where physical and verbal attacks took place. It was more physical than verbal, but it was all appalling.”
Zara continued in her statement: ‘I have struggled with the fear of opening up: I was afraid of public backlash, I was afraid of my future, I was afraid of being shamed,’ Zara wrote on Instagram.
“But after many conversations with my loved ones, I have gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.
I have struggled with the fear of opening up – I was afraid of the public reaction, I was afraid of my future, I was afraid of being humiliated as a victim. But after many conversations with people I love, I have gained the strength to face these fears and, when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.
‘The culture of our society makes it difficult for people to express themselves, especially in a world where opinions and voices on social media are so loud. This is something I have seen from working with countless women on my documentaries.
“I would like to thank the BBC and BBC Studios for their quick response and incredible level of support, as well as everyone who has reached out to me. It means the world to me. Love always. Zara.”
Graziano, who was due to compete in his seventh series of Strictly before his dismissal, is taking legal action against the BBC, MailOnline revealed on Monday.
The BBC has vowed to hit back after it was revealed that Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima is taking legal action against the broadcaster.
The Sicilian dancer believes he should have been “supported and helped” with his behaviour after his bosses warned him about his treatment of former Love Island star Zara.
But a BBC source told the Mail the broadcaster would hit back, explaining: “Why would a workplace, particularly one paid for by the public, offer support to someone who acted in an undoubtedly abhorrent way?”
Graziano, who allegedly “kicked and punched” Zara, claims he was not given any advice on how to deal with the pressure of competing on the show.
A friend of the professional dancer said yesterday: “There are questions about their (the BBC’s) procedures and how they operate behind the scenes.”
‘He (Di Prima) believes there is a lot of pressure on professionals to get nines or tens to entertain the public.’
Addressing his exit from the show, a “devastated” Graziano wrote on Instagram over the weekend: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win may have affected my training regime.
‘While I respect the BBC’s HR process, I recognise that for the sake of the programme it is right that I step away. I am saddened that I have not been allowed to give a quote to Online News and appreciate the sensitivity of the situation.
“There is more to this story that I cannot comment on at this time, but I am committed to staying strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family every success in the future.”
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