Giovanni Pernice's passionate denial of 'abusive behaviour' towards Amanda Abbington appears to have been met by backing from a former Strictly Come Dancing star.
Jamie Laing, who starred in the 2020, appears to be supporting the under-fire dancing pro, who has reportedly ended his eight year stint on the show after the scrutiny "became too much". Giovanni faced allegations over his tough training methods from previous celebrity partners, including actress Amanda, who suddenly left midway through the last series.
Amanda later publicly alleged that she had been diagnosed with mild post-traumatic stress disorder after her time on the competition. Allegations from other celebrity partners then surfaced. Despite this, the BBC were said to be backing the Italian 'all the way' and he after the broadcaster offered him a new contract.
Giovanni has rejected any suggestion that he acted inappropriately and has vowed to "clear his name". Jamie, a close friend of the Italian, appeared to show his support by liking his Instagram statement after the 33-year-old broke his silence with a social media statement.
It read: "To my dear fans, You will be as surprised as I am that allegations have been made about my dance teaching methods in the media this week. Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name. Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive.
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He has issued a vehement denial he was 'threatening or abusive' during training sessions (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Former Strictly star Jamie Laing reacted to his statement, supporting his friend (Getty Images)"No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me. I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win - for me and my dance partners. Thank you all once again for your continued love and support! Giovanni."
In a separate statement to The Sun, Giovanni added how it has "come from a place of love and wanting to win". However, a source told The Sun that Amanda had a "terrible time" with Giovanni and felt that his behaviour was "bullying and abrasive".
The dancer and Amanda were thought to have clashed backstage and during rehearsals during the Sherlock star's time on the show. Earlier this year, Amanda reportedly requested backstage footage of her training sessions with Giovanni from BBC bosses, potentially in preparation for legal action.
Amanda left the dance competition citing "medical reasons", but rumours have since surfaced that the Sherlock actress is considering legal advice after experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her time on the show, suggesting that Giovanni was a demanding teacher.
The source claimed Amanda would be "in tears" as their communication broke down and shared how she "tried every avenue to try and make it work". It has been claimed "crisis talks" would happen every Friday following their rehearsal footage being seen by producers. "She desperately wanted it to work but invariably it would break down," they said. "An urgent medical condition eventually allowed her to quit."
While details of the 2024 edition of Strictly Come Dancing have yet to be revealed, Giovanni is known to have had talks with the Beeb over his return to the series, with one source stating at the time the BBC was "welcoming him back with open arms." However, his name is reportedly missing from a leaked internal memo. In a statement shared with the Mirror, a BBC spokesperson said: "The Professional Dancers for Strictly Come Dancing 2024 will be announced in due course."
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