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Privacy NoticeGraziano Di Prima has broken his silence after being dropped from the BBC, sharing the final words he exchanged with former dance partner Zara McDermott just before receiving the news of his dismissal. The 30-year-old pro dancer was let go by the BBC amid allegations of gross misconduct, which included claims of hitting, spitting at, and kicking former Love Island star Zara McDermott. Now residing in Italy with his wife, Graziano confesses he’s been left shattered by the controversy. In a candid chat with The Daily Mail, he stood by his behaviour during rehearsals, asserting that he’s not a monster and is not “abusive.” He also divulged the last conversation he had with Zara, claiming it happened a mere 20 minutes before his abrupt exit from Strictly. Reflecting on their relationship, Graziano told the outlet: “I thought we were friends, we were friends.” Zara became a regular face at Graziano’s dance workshops after their stint on the show together, supported his tour alongside his wife Giada, which she attended twice, and even offered to help him find an apartment in London, reports the Mirror.
A vulnerable Graziano has revealed all a new interview
(Image: Instagram)
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She also got the opportunity to meet Graziano’s mother, Giovanna. In his latest interview, Graziano disclosed that their last exchange occurred on the very day the BBC handed him his walking papers. On July 9, Graziano shared that Zara sent him a video of her cat and moaned about the weather while he was soaking up the sun in Sicily. His wife’s sweet response was: “I’ll try and send the sun to you” and she wrapped up the message with: “Anyway, my darling, we’re going to see you very soon because we’re going to be in the UK so we need to go out together and we can organise dinner in our new apartment. Sending love.”
Graziano Di Prima was accused of gross misconduct towards Zara McDermott
(Image: (Image: GETTY))
Graziano then shockingly disclosed that merely 20 minutes later, the BBC rang him up to confirm his departure from the show, and since that call, radio silence from Zara. “You can’t imagine how many times my mind has been going back and forward trying to think of something that happened all those months ago that I can’t figure out,” he expressed. In a heartfelt interview, a clearly upset Graziano insisted he “didn’t deliberately hurt anyone” and was at a loss as to where McDermott’s accusations came from. “I’m not a monster. I’m not an abusive man,” he declared.
Zara McDermott and Graziano during Strictly rehearsals
(Image: Zara McDermott/Instagram)
He reflected on one incident, saying: “The only thing I can think of is the time I kicked the floor in frustration. “We’d practised hour after hour to perfect a routine with lifts. It wasn’t easy but that’s the pressure of the show.” He continued, clarifying: “I wasn’t meaning to kick her. I’d never, never do that. My foot brushed her after I kicked the floor. “Afterwards, I hugged her and said I was sorry. There was no problem. We carried on. I’m not sure if this is it or if it’s from when we, as professional dancers, move our partner’s leg with our foot. That is what is so difficult for me – not knowing.”Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnLove IslandStrictly Come DancingZara McdermottGraziano Di Prima
