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Giovanni Pernice‘s ex flame Tasha Ghouri broke her silence on the Strictly Come Dancing scandal on Sunday ahead of her stint on the show which starts later this month.
The former Love Island star, 26, – who was born deaf – dated the now-axed pro, 34, about six months before finding fame on the ITV dating show.
It has been a tough year for Giovanni who was let go from the show after Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, 50, made a series of accusations about his teaching methods.
She described his behaviour as ‘unnecessary, abusive, cruel and mean’. He strongly denies all of the claims. Soon after Graziano Di Prima was sacked from the show for his alleged treatment of partner Zara McDermott.
Tasha has now told The Sun of the scandal: ‘I wasn’t there – I’m here for my own experience on the show. So I’m focusing on myself to just really enjoy it.’
Giovanni Pernice ‘s ex flame Tasha Ghouri broke her silence on the Strictly Come Dancing scandal on Sunday ahead of her stint on the show which starts later this month
The former Love Island star, 26, – who was born deaf – dated the now-axed pro, 34, about six months before finding fame on the show
She added of her old romance with Giovanni: ‘I’ve met up with him a few times. But that was years ago. We are not in touch now, this is like ancient history. I’m so happy with Andrew, and he’s my future, so I don’t want to talk about the past.
‘It’s not my place to comment on [the allegations against Giovanni]. I’m here for my own experiences. I’m here just for me.’
Tasha also told how she has received advice from former winner of the show Rose Ayling-Ellis who was also born deaf and was partnered with Giovanni.
She also told how Zara congratulated her after finding out she had been signed up for the show.
Tasha added that she has no fears of the ‘Strictly curse’ as her boyfriend Andrew Le Page will be at all the live shows supporting her with a ‘Team Tasha’ T-shirt.
Tasha previously danced for the likes of pop star MNEK, before finding fame and love in the villa with boyfriend Andrew.
She has since gone on to bag huge modelling contracts with brands ASOS and Ann Summers.
MailOnline revealed Giovanni and Tasha connected via Instagram and messaged privately on the app, which eventually led to the pair meeting in January 2022 – a month after he won Strictly with Rose.
He wined and dined the stunner but their fling fizzled out due to him being on the Strictly tour.
A source close to Tasha said at the time: ‘Giovanni was persistent when it came to Tasha’.
Tasha has now told The Sun of the scandal: ‘I wasn’t there – I’m here for my own experience on the show. So I’m focusing on myself to just really enjoy it’
She added of her old romance with Giovanni: ‘I’ve met up with him a few times. But that was years ago. We are not in touch now, this is like ancient history’
Tasha added that she has no fears of the ‘Strictly curse’ as her boyfriend Andrew Le Page will be at all the live shows supporting her with a ‘Team Tasha’ T-shirt
‘They have a lot in common, both being dancers, and he had just learned a lot about the deaf community performing with Rose on Strictly, who Tasha really admires.
‘Tasha was impressed by how gentlemanly he was, taking her out to top London restaurants and offering to send cars to collect her, but she’s independent and always made her own way to see him.
‘Their romance didn’t progress because Giovanni was travelling a lot with the Strictly tour and Tasha was already involved with someone else.’
MailOnline contacted their representatives for comment at the time.
It comes as Amanda is reportedly ‘deeply disappointed’ with BBC bosses over fears they are ‘protecting’ Giovanni amid his bullying probe.
The report has been completed and is ready to be published within days.
A friend of Amanda told The Sun: ‘She’s deeply disappointed with the BBC. She thinks it feels like such a boys’ club.
‘As well as the probe taking so long, it feels like they are protecting Giovanni to save themselves and ignoring not only her experience but that of other women who’ve bravely come forward.
Tasha also told how she has received advice from former winner of the show Rose Ayling-Ellis who was also born deaf and was partnered with Giovanni
It has been a tough year for Giovanni who was let go from the show after Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington, 50, made a series of accusations about his teaching methods
‘Amanda feels tired, upset and very angry with the way it’s all been handled.
‘She is worried there will be a predictable whitewash and others will, once again, suffer from aggression and abuse.’
MailOnline has contacted Amanda and the BBC for comment.
It comes after it was revealed Amanda has found BBC bosses line of questioning ‘highly offensive’ amid the show’s ongoing misconduct probe.