Tearful Strictly star Amanda Abbington reveals some of ‘bullying’ by Giovanni Pernice was ‘of sexual nature’
AMANDA Abbington has made the sensational claim that some of her ‘bullying’ ordeal on Strictly Come Dancing was of a ‘sexual nature’.
In an explosive sit down with Channel 4 news tonight, Amanda opens up on her exit from the BBC show after she raised concerns with bosses about her treatment by pro dancer Giovanni Pernice.
During the interview, news anchor Krishnan-Guru Murthy said: “I heard, not from you, from somebody else, about an instance of, I suppose you’d call it humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature, is that right?”
An emotional Amanda replied: “Yeah. I mean, you know, one of the many things.”
Amanda admitted that she could not go into the full details about the nature of what she allegedly suffered as it is still under investigation.
‘I recognised the red flags’
She did however shine more of a light about what went on in the rehearsal room.
Talking about the nature of the ‘abuse’, she added: “It was unnecessary and when stuff was getting thrown at me I’d shut down because I’ve been in abusive situations before in the past so I recognised the red flags, so I’d shut down and wouldn’t be able to do it because I felt attacked, not literally attacked.”
Hitting back at trolls who, she says, branded her a “snow flake” and sent her and her family death threats, Amanda insisted: “I go into anything wanting to work hard. I have a strong work ethic, the fact that people think I’m lazy and ‘she didn’t know what she was letting herself in for’. Yes, I did, of course I did, I know what I was letting myself in, but I didn’t know I was letting myself in for that.”
She also added that she is confident her complaint will be upheld, and that six other Strictly stars came forward before her.
SIX other stars came forward
The Sherlock actress explained: “If it had just been me coming out saying all this stuff, I can understand why people go, ‘Oh God’, but there were five or six other people previously to me who had the same experience.”
Amanda also slammed the BBC for not giving her enough aftercare, saying she didn’t hear from anyone after the scandal became public.
She also claims that, contrary to reports she snubbed the live final of the show, she wasn’t invited.
“I got several messages afterwards from some of the producers, just checking in to see how I was,” she said.
“But then when all the fallout happened, and then everybody started piling on and the death threats came in, and they were reported in the press and all the misinformation went out there. I didn’t really hear from anybody again.”
Asked if there was any aftercare provided, she responded: “No, it would have been nice I suppose.”
Final ‘snub’
On the topic of the final, she claimed: “I was never asked back to the final, and I read a headline saying I snubbed the final. I didn’t snub a final. Nobody ever contacted me again to be back in that show. Not that I probably would have been able to go back.
“But the idea that I snubbed it because I’ve made some wonderful friends on that show, and the people, contestants and some of the other dancers were just joyful. I didn’t snub anybody. I left that show with my head held high.”
Amanda also reiterated her claims that Giovanni is blocking the release of rehearsal footage, saying there is FIFTY hours recorded.
There is evidence out there of what happened in that room and I’m not the one who’s blocking it. I’ve said anyone can watch it, but he (Giovanni) doesn’t want anyone to see it,” she insisted.
Caught on tape
Asked what the footage shows, she elaborated: “It’s bullying and it’s aggressive behaviour, there were other things that were very upsetting, that you manage in the room at the time, because you’re a woman, and you have to manage those things because otherwise, what do you do?”
A BBC spokesperson said in response: “Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals.
“However, when issues are raised with us we always take them extremely seriously and have appropriate processes in place to manage this. As we have said before, we would urge people not to indulge in speculation.
“More generally, the BBC and BBC Studios takes duty of care extremely seriously. Our processes on Strictly Come Dancing are updated every year, they are kept under constant review and last week we announced additional steps to further strengthen welfare and support on the show.“
Giovanni responds
In a statement Giovanni Pernice’s spokesperson said: “We are cooperating fully with the BBC’s review process. All parties have been asked to respect this process and to not speak to the media before it concludes.
“We will continue to respect the integrity of the investigation and believe it is the right forum for all the evidence to be reviewed.
“As part of the evidence-led review, the BBC has shared the allegations they have been able to substantiate with us.
“They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, given to Channel 4, in any shape or form. Giovanni refutes any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour, and having provided the BBC with his evidence, is confident that the review will prove this.”
Watch the full interview on Channel 4 News tonight at 7pm