Laura Whitmore has broken her silence on Giovanni’s behaviour (Image: Supplied by WENN)Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inboxInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeLaura Whitmore has taken to Instagram to confirm she has spoken to the BBC regarding Giovanni Pernice’s alleged ‘inappropriate’ behaviour during Strictly Come Dancing. However, she confirmed she has not issued an “official complaint”. The former Love Island host was partnered with Giovanni during her stint on the show in 2016, and has now confirmed she was asked to speak to the BBC along with six other people. Giovanni faced allegations of “abusive and threatening behaviour” from former celebrity dance partner Amanda Abbington, which prompted an investigation into the behaviour of the dancer. Giovanni has adamantly denied any allegations of wrongdoing.
Laura said she ‘raised concerns’ in 2016
(Image: BBC/Jay Brooks/Matt Burlem)
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In the lengthy statement, posted to her Instagram story, 39-year-old Laura penned: “I was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people that I know of (who deserve anonymity as they don’t want to be dragged through the press), about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual. I initially raised concerns back in 2016.” “I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong,” she continued. “The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop. My evidence is to support other people’s experience. It’s a shame it takes this for someone to be heard. “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.”
Laura and Giovanni left the show in week 6
(Image: PA)
“Because I have not made an official complaint, and am providing evidence of my experience to support the investigation, not all the communication will be passed on to all parties involved. ” Adding to this, Laura wrote: “Misinformation is being put into the press so I want to set the record straight. “Victim blaming must stop or we will never get better. I’ve tried to speak up in the correct way. I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up.” OK! has contacted Giovanni Pernice’s representatives for comment. It’s not the first time Laura has spoken out about her experiences on the BBC show, which is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. Previously speaking on the Private Parts podcast with Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and Francis Boulle, Laura confided: “What I didn’t like was being removed from everybody and having to spend 12 hours a day with this one person.” In a piece for the Huffington Post in 2018, she said: “I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with – and in the end I felt broken. I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnGiovanni PerniceLaura WhitmoreStrictly Come Dancing
