Aljaž Škorjanec’s alleged altercation with a dancer has divided Strictly Come Dancing professionals as it appears the incident has been ‘swept under the carpet’.
The 34-year-old dancer’s return to the BBC show has been marred by controversy, with cast and crew reportedly furious at his return following the alleged backstage row with a female professional, who is said to still be on the show.
And with the countdown to the show’s glitzy launch this month, there appears to be unease among dancers that the Aljaž drama was sidelined because it reportedly occurred on tour, away from the main show.
Since the tour is considered separate from the main schedule, there seems to be a mentality of “what happens on tour, stays on tour,” according to The sunwhich is said to have left his furious fellow professionals “totally devastated”.
A source told the publication: “Those who expressed concern at the time were angry that Aljaž had returned for this year’s series, so they felt vindicated when the incident was finally exposed. So they are completely devastated – it seems they’ve completely covered it up again.”
Aljaž Škorjanec’s alleged altercation with a dancer has divided Strictly Come Dancing professionals as it appears the incident has been ‘swept under the carpet’.
With the countdown to the show’s glitzy launch this month, there appears to be unease among dancers as the Aljaž drama was pushed aside because it reportedly occurred on tour away from the main show.
“Behind the scenes, the feeling seems to be ‘what happens on tour, stays on tour’. People say that because the tour is run by BBC Studios, it’s not the same as bad behaviour on the show.”
The insider continued: “It already seemed crazy that the BBC had replaced Giovanni Pernice with Aljaž, who left under suspicion. But the cast and crew involved in this can’t believe the attitude is basically that unless it happens in the main show, no one cares.”
However, the BBC has said it does not “recognise” the claims against Aljaz, while subsidiary BBC Studios declined to comment.
MailOnline has contacted Aljaž’s representatives for comment. Strictly’s representatives declined to comment.
The Slovenian dancer will return to the BBC show for its new series, two years after an altercation on the 2022 live tour, according to The sun.
Two years after his departure, Aljaž was reported to have left the show following an alleged incident with a fellow professional dancer on the national tour.
The decision to bring the star back to the BBC show has reportedly sparked controversy, especially given a series of scandals that have dogged the show in recent weeks.
A source told the publication: ‘Has the BBC learned nothing from the last ten months?
The 34-year-old dancer’s return to the BBC show has been marred by controversy, with cast and crew reportedly furious at his return following the alleged backstage row with a female professional, who is said to still be on the show.
According to The Sun, the tour is considered separate from the main show and there appears to be a “what happens on tour, stays on tour” mentality, which has reportedly left his furious fellow professionals “totally devastated”.
‘Amid continued furore over the behaviour of their male professionals, they actively recruited a male dancer who left in disagreement.
‘It was said that Aljaž was a legend who would return and not have any problems, but nothing could be further from the truth.’
The source claimed the cast and crew were “relieved” to see his departure two years ago and are now “horrified” to see him back on the show.
The incident is said to have made the dancer feel “deeply uncomfortable”.
The Aljaž scene is said to have been discussed at length backstage since then and the decision to bring him back has ‘puzzled’ the crew.
Strictly Come Dancing cast and crew are reportedly furious at the return of professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec
The Slovenian dancer will return to the BBC show for its new series, two years after an altercation on the 2022 live tour (pictured with celebrity partner Sara Davies in 2021)
“Executives would have to be living in a cave not to have heard the rumors,” the source added.
According to the publication, the BBC denied that an official complaint had been filed over the incident and had previously claimed that Aljaz left of his own free will.
A spokesman for Aljaž said: ‘Aljaž has the utmost respect for everyone he works with.
‘He chose to leave the show in 2022 of his own free will, but he has always loved Strictly and was delighted to be asked to return.
“It is not true to say or suggest that he was forced out or that he acted aggressively at any point. He is excited to get back on the dance floor this year.”
At the time, Aljaz reportedly agreed to leave the show after an alleged “shocking” incident with a fellow professional dancer on the national tour.
Despite the show’s controversial months, Aljaž, who was accused of annoying the show’s staff with “aggressive and pompous behavior” in 2022, is set to return (pictured in 2019)
The return of the professional dancer, who is married to fellow Strictly pro and It Takes Two presenter Janette Manrara, is the latest drama to hit the BBC show as a number of allegations of abuse by professionals have come to light.
The scandal erupted when actress Amanda Abbington left the show last year after claiming she was abused by her partner Giovanni Pernice. Giovanni has vehemently denied the allegations.
Amanda, 50, abruptly quit the BBC show citing “personal issues” and has not been seen on screen since, even quitting social media last month in the wake of her former dance partner’s sacking.
Giovanni, 33, has been suspended pending a BBC investigation into allegations made by Amanda and two other celebrity exes.
Sources previously claimed that Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore had an “emotional summit” where they “compared notes” about their time working with Giovanni on the show.
