Strictly star Giovanni Pernice denies 'latest accusations' after BBC axe

Strictly star Giovanni Pernice has fought back against "the latest accusations" made towards him, vowing to vindicate himself.

The 33-year-old Italian dancer took to social media in the small hours of Sunday to dismiss as "totally untrue stories" while expressing gratitude for fan support amidst a BBC probe.

Giovanni, notable in his absence from this year's Strictly line-up, has been engulfed by controversy over purported conduct during his most recent stint on the dance show - claims he robustly rejects.

He was teamed with actress Amanda Abbington, who exited the programme prematurely and later alleged PTSD. Reports suggest an internal BBC investigation followed complaints from Amanda and other past celebrity partners.

Over the weekend, additional allegations emerged about Giovanni's on-set behaviour on Strictly, which the professional quick-stepped away from. In the early hours of Sunday morning, Instagram was his chosen platform to share a statement with his followers, reports the Mirror.

The dancer, who clinched the Glitterball trophy alongside Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2019, penned: "To my fans and followers, Every week, there are totally untrue stories about me in the media. As you know, I have always rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour. The latest accusations are simply false."

"I am cooperating fully with the ongoing BBC investigation, which will determine the truth. As requested, I have stayed silent, but I am looking forward to the conclusion of the investigation and ultimately clearing my name and establishing the truth. I am so happy to be back on tour.

"Thank you all for your continued support your messages and love mean so much to me. I will hopefully see many of you very soon and I'm looking forward to clearing my name. With love, Giovanni."

Blue's Duncan James was quick to comment on Giovanni's post: "Stay strong my friend. The truth always comes out in the end. Sending u love my bro."

"Stay strong. Your dedication and incredible talent will always shine brighter," added TV nutritionist Gillian McKeith. One fan wrote: "Stay strong Gio. We love you. Xxx."

The line-up for the new series of Strictly was announced not long ago, and Giovanni is notably absent from the roster of returning professional dancers. After it was revealed he had abruptly departed the show, Giovanni uploaded a video showing himself resuming dance training on his Instagram story.

In the footage, Giovanni appears guiding several group dance classes. He appended three heart emojis to the post, defiantly assuring fans that he isn't surrendering his passion for dance.

His video also appeared on the official Ballando social media profiles, with followers expressing their excitement about the prospect of seeing Giovanni return to the dance floor.

This comes amid speculation that he might not return to the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 line-up, as his name was conspicuously absent from an allegedly leaked internal memo listing this year's professional dancers. Giovanni first graced the Strictly dance floor in 2015, making it to the final with Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote.

His crowning moment came when he won the competition with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, who made history as the show's first deaf champion.

Giovanni has previously denied any allegations of "abusive or threatening behaviour" and has shown a keen interest in clearing his name. The legal team for those levelling complaints against him has indicated that the broadcaster is "gathering evidence"; however, the BBC has yet to confirm whether an official investigation is taking place.

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