Yahoo News Giovanni Pernice responds to BBC's Strictly review findings
Giovanni Pernice has issued his first statement after the BBC concluded a review of Strictly Come Dancing's behind-the-scenes culture.
On Monday (September 30), the BBC confirmed in a statement that its review upheld "some but not all" of the complaints made by Amanda Abbington regarding her training with Pernice last season.
BBC News subsequently reported that complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld in the inquiry, whereas complaints of physical aggression were not upheld.
The BBC issued a public apology to Abbington, which read in part: "We want to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming forward and taking part. We know this would not have been an easy thing to do."
Pernice exited his long-time role as a professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing earlier this year, following Abbington's complaints to the BBC.
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In his first statement since the review was published, Giovanni said he was pleased that some of the allegations "have not been upheld".
"It's over. It's finished," he wrote on Instagram. "Six months, seven months of all of this. Seven months of reading everyday things in the newspaper and not be [SIC] able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and privacy of the review, was a difficult time. It was difficult because, you know, reading stuff that were untrue, wasn't the nicest time of my life, lets be honest.
"But today im happy because, you know, at the beginning there were very very serious allegations thrown out at me but as in today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld. All the threatening, abusive, harassment behaviour allegations have not been upheld."
The professional dancer acknowledged there are times he can get "frustrated" while training, but put this down to "car[ing] about what you do".
"You know as a professional, as a teacher, I care about, I want to get the best out of my partner, and sometimes I do get frustrated," he wrote. "I think everybody around the world does the same thing, it's called being professional and I love, I love doing that. You know even now with Bianca [Guaccero, his partner on the Italian version of Strictly], I get frustrated, I think it's a normal thing but then you get out the best and the results come forward."
He went on: "But im happy because none of this serious allegation has been upheld. I have to be honest, and with all of you because without, without your love, your messages, your support, your constant support, I don't know if I would be able to even make this message right now.
"I'm happy because today I can carry on to do what I was born to do, and I love to do which is entertain all of you, because this is my life. This is what I do, so im always grateful to all of you and just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, and saying that I love you all and always, always thank you."
Abbington called the findings of the BBC inquiry "a vindication" in her own statement and expressed hope that "lessons have been learned".
"I hope those who have felt unable to speak out now will be more confident that they will be listened to and believed," she said. "The BBC has invited me to meet with senior management and this is something I will now be considering."
Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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