Ruth LawesPublished Jul 18, 2024, 9:55am|Updated Jul 18, 2024, 10:09am
Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice was spotted looking pensive in central London as the BBC show’s scandal deepens.
The 33-year-old was wheeling a black monogrammed suitcase and a Louis Vuitton backpack outside Covent Garden tube station.
Onlookers said he appeared to be going on a trip and was using his phone for around 10 minutes before catching his train.
Looking downcast, Pernice was wearing AirPods and a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt.
His outing comes weeks after the BBC confirmed he would not be joining the line-up of professional dancers on Strictly this year after allegations about his conduct.
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The broadcaster is currently conducting an investigation into Pernice’s teaching style after claims of inappropriate and controlling behaviour.
The probe was prompted after his former partner Amanda Abbington made a string of damning allegations and said she was diagnosed with PTSD after Strictly.
Last week in an interview with The Sunday Times, the Sherlock actress said she had the ‘worst experience’ on the show which she described as ‘tough and horrible.’
She unexpectedly quit Strictly mid-way through the series, citing ‘personal reasons’ for her exit at the time.
Pernice’s previous partners Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh are also said to have accused him of misconduct and allegedly met with Abbington to ‘compare notes.’
The Italian dancer strongly rejects all the allegations and said in a statement that he ‘looks forward to clearing my name.’
After Pernice was dropped from this year’s Strictly, BBC bosses announced they had dismissed Graziano Di Prima over claims he ‘kicked and hit’ former partner Zara McDermott.
She addressed the allegations on Instagram and said that there were ‘videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.’
The former Love Island star, 27, said she had ‘wrestled with the fear of opening up’ about her time on Strictly Come Dancing because she feared ‘public backlash’ and ‘victim shaming.’
Di Prima, 30, later said that he ‘deeply regrets the actions’ that led to his departure from Strictly.
‘My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime,’ he admitted.
A third unnamed male Strictly professional has also been identified as a ‘person of interest’ in a probe launched into the show.
Since being hit by the scandal, Strictly has introduced a series of new welfare measures, including the presence of a chaperone in rehearsals.
However, it has been claimed bosses are struggling to cast female celebrities due to the allegations of backstage ‘bullying.’
Strictly Come Dancing is expected to air on the BBC later this year.
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