Giovanni Pernice accused of ‘doing horrendous issues’ to dancer
Giovanni Pernice faced further claims of workplace misconduct on Monday evening after a professional dancer accused him of ‘horrendous’ behaviour away from the BBC show.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star has come under fire for his ‘militant’ training style, with the BBC forced to investigate ‘serious workplace misconduct claims’ after three of his celebrity partners sought legal help.
Now, industry colleague Korina Travis, who performed with Pernice at private functions and has no association with Strictly, has accused the Italian dancer of behaving questionably when they worked together.
‘I’ve known him for years as a fellow competitor and he has done horrendous things to me,’ she said in a statement released on Monday.
‘I will not speak about my experiences with him but I’m glad the world is seeing him for who he truly is. I’ll leave it at that.’
Giovanni Pernice faced further claims of workplace misconduct on Monday evening after professional dancer Korina Travis accused him of ‘horrendous’ behaviour
Korina, who performed with Pernice at private functions and has no association with Strictly, has accused the Italian dancer of behaving questionably when they worked together
Travis works for ballroom company Burn The Floor alongside numerous former Strictly Come Dancing professionals.
She was previously considered for a role on the BBC show in 2016 before producers chose Chloe Hewitt.
Former Strictly contestants Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh have all critical in their review of Pernice’s methods.
According to The Sun, several women who have danced with the Italian on Strictly are contemplating joining the three existing claimants in a Beeb investigation for ‘serious workplace misconduct claims’.
A source disclosed that several former dance partners of Pernice’s have been communicating privately and suggested that even more names could come forward.
The source went on to say that the future is unclear for the professional dancer, who vehemently denies any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour and has vowed to ‘clear his name.’
They revealed: ‘Numerous celebrities, all former partners of Gio’s, have been in contact with one another behind the scenes.
‘Three women that we know of have come forward, and taken things a step further with legal action.
In recent weeks, the professional dancer has come under fire for his ‘militant’ training style, with the BBC forced to investigate ‘serious workplace misconduct claims’
‘But Carter Ruck, the prestigious firm acting on behalf of these stars, have quietly been speaking to one or two other potential claimants. In other words, more names could come out of the woodwork.’
The fresh claims come after the professional dancer reportedly quit Strictly after the scrutiny became ‘too much’.
Off the back of Pernice’s departure, friends close to Amanda spoke about how she found the pro dancer ‘abrasive’ and would have to have ‘crisis talks’ with show bosses every week after being left in floods of tears at his ‘tough’ training method with claims it left her ‘bruised‘.
Amanda, who dramatically withdrew from last year’s competition and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after the show, is said to have met with Laura and Ranvir, 46, earlier this year for an ’emotional summit’ to ‘compare notes’ about their time working with him.
Amanda Abbington (pictured) is one of the women named in the suit, while the likes of Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh have also been critical in their review of him
The professional dancer shared a post to Instagram detailing that he was ‘totally surprised’ by the allegations, which he denies
Pernice has faced a wave of scrutiny ever since Amanda (pictured) dramatically quit last year
Pernice shared a post to Instagram detailing that he was ‘totally surprised’ by the allegations, which he denies.
He said in a statement: ‘You will be as surprised as I am that allegations have been made about my dance teaching methods in the media this week.
‘Of course, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name.
‘Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive. No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me.
‘I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win – for me and my dance partners.
‘Thank you all once again for your continued love and support!’
In 2016, former Love Island host Laura Whitmore said she ‘cried every day’ and felt ‘uncomfortable’ while training with him
The Good Morning Britain presenter Ranvir Singh also complained about Giovanni to producers back in 2020, during their time on the show
Former partners have also come out to back him, including Debbie McGee, the widow of the magician Paul Daniels, who was paired with him in 2017
