Giovanni Pernice danced with the former Love Island presenter in 2016. His 2023 partner has accused Pernice of abuse, which he denies.
Laura Whitmore claims BBC managers “gaslit” her when she raised concerns about Strictly Come Dancing.
The 2016 Love Island host, partnered with professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, was the seventh celebrity evicted.
Fellow Amanda Abbington called Pernice, her 2023 Strictly partner, “abusive, cruel, and mean.”. Pernice denies “any suggestion of abusive or threatening behavior.”.
Whitmore, from Dublin, told the Irish Post she was “gaslit to make it seem normalised” when she voiced concerns.
Gaslighting is deceiving someone to control them, according to the Cambridge Dictionary.
Whitmore: “It’s unfortunate because it always appears victim-shaming. Being the first to say something is hard.”
BBC boss addresses strict scandalBBC boss addresses strict scandal
‘During the rehearsals, inappropriate behavior was observed.
In a post that she made on social media a month ago, the 39-year-old woman stated that she, along with six other individuals, was requested to share her thoughts with the BBC on charges of “inappropriate behavior.” At the time, she explained that she had the impression that her experience on the show was unique to her, but she has now realized that she was mistaken.
She concluded by saying, “I am not looking for anything, just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again.”
Pernice “doesn’t want anyone to see” the fifty hours of video footage that Abbington claims are from cameras that were installed in the practice room after she voiced issues during her first week. However, the BBC has reviewed these recordings. Abbington has alleged that these cameras were installed after she raised concerns during her first week.
Although the findings of an investigation that was initiated by the BBC in response to the allegations have not yet been made public, the broadcaster has announced new techniques to “strengthen welfare and support” on the show. One of these methods is the presence of a chaperone who would be present during training room rehearsals “at all times.”