Laura Whitmore has today confirmed she has spoken to the BBC about Giovanni Pernice‘s ‘inappropriate’ behaviour on Strictly Come Dancing.
The TV presenter, 39, who was partnered with the Italian dancer, 33, on the show in 2016, has claimed she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years ago.
Although she hasn’t made a formal complaint, Laura hopes to get ‘just an acceptance’ of what happened to her in the rehearsals room.
Laura admitted that she has discussed with six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC.
On an Instagram post, Laura wrote: ‘I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight.
Laura Whitmore, 39, has today confirmed she has spoken to the BBC about Giovanni Pernice’s, 33, ‘inappropriate’ behaviour on Strictly Come Dancing
The TV presenter, who was partnered with the Italian dancer on the show in 2016, has claimed she initially raised concerns to the BBC six years agoÂ
‘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.Â
‘I initially raised concerns back in 2016. I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong.
‘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.
‘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.
‘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.Â
‘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.’
Amanda Abbington – Giovanni’s last celebrity partner – quit Strictly last year due to ‘personal reasons’ before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD.
Although she hasn’t made a formal complaint, Laura hopes to get ‘just an acceptance’ of what happened to her in the rehearsals room
Laura admitted that she has discussed with six former Strictly stars about their time on the show and took their information to the BBC
Amanda Abbington (pictured) – Giovanni’s last celebrity partner – quit Strictly last year due to ‘personal reasons’ before reports she had demanded footage of their rehearsals after the experience in the competition left her with PTSD
Sources then claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an ’emotional summit’ where they ‘compared notes’ about their time working with Giovanni on the show – prompting the BBC to launch a probe into his conduct
Sources then claimed Amanda, Ranvir Singh and Laura had an ’emotional summit’ where they ‘compared notes’ about their time working with Giovanni on the show – prompting the BBC to launch a probe into his conduct.
It comes just days after Strictly was plunged into further crisis on Wednesday after Amanda claimed that Giovanni was trying to block the release of up to 50 hours of ‘toxic’ footage’.Â
In an emotionally charged interview, the actress compared the dance show to ‘the trenches’ telling Channel 4 News that BBC producers had been left ‘horrified’ by clips that also allegedly exhibited ‘humiliating behaviour of a sexual nature’.
In 2018, Laura shared that she didn’t enjoy her time on Strictly with Giovanni, leaving the competition in week seven feeling ‘broken’ and admitting she ‘cried every day’.
The Irish presenter wasn’t happy about being paired with her close friend Georgia May Foote’s ex not long after the pair had split – and felt ‘extremely uncomfortable’ dancing with him.
Writing for The Huffington Post at the time, Laura said: ‘I love dancing – I topped the leaderboard twice – but I was thrown into the middle of a break-up that had nothing to do with me. Once again, I was a “rumoured love interest”.
‘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.’
