Zara McDermott has broken her silence after Graziano di Prima was fired from Strictly Come Dancing following reports that he verbally and physically abused her.
The Love Island star, 27, wrote on Instagram on Tuesday morning that while much of her time on Strictly “was everything I could have dreamed of” inside the training room with Graziano, 31, there were “particular incidents that are incredibly distressing”.
“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 have dreamed of ever 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.”
Zara McDermott has broken her silence after Graziano di Prima was fired from Strictly Come Dancing following reports that he verbally and physically abused her.
The star wrote on Instagram that while much of her time on Strictly “was everything I could have dreamed of”, there were “distressing incidents” inside the training room with Graziano.
“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.
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.
“I’ve 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 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.
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.”
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.
“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.”
Now, sources close to the show have revealed that Graziano is already packing up his life in the UK and plans to start anew in Italy alongside his wife Giada, a fellow dancer who stars on the Italian version of Strictly.
A source explained how the dancer, who plans to sue the BBC following his sacking, has gone into hiding, saying: “Graziano is petrified and in a bad place.”
“His wife Giada is supportive and they are planning to pack their bags and return to Italy. This has ended his career and he knows it,” the source said. Sun.
‘Returning to Italy to start over is the best thing for him and Giada.’
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.
Now, sources close to the show have revealed that Graziano is packing up his life and planning to start anew in Italy alongside his wife Giada, a fellow dancer who stars on the Italian version of Strictly.
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.’
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.
A source from the show said: “There were multiple occasions where physical and verbal attacks took place. It was more physical than verbal, but it was all appalling.”
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.
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.
He was introduced to BBC HR executives investigating dancer Giovanni Pernice, following claims by his 2023 partner, actress Amanda, that he harassed her during training.
Pernice denies the allegations and left the show last month.
Addressing his exit from the show, a “devastated” Grazinao wrote on Instagram over the weekend: “I am deeply sorry for the events that led to my departure from Strictly.”
“My intense passion and determination to win may have affected my training regime.” Yesterday, the Mail revealed that he has hired a lawyer and a publicist in an attempt to emerge from the scandal as unscathed as possible.
Zara, who now presents documentaries for the BBC, is said to have been “too scared” to file a complaint at the time but is now cooperating with investigators.