Giovanni Pernice’s first TV interview since the BBC investigation verdict has appeared to have backfired.
The former Strictly Come Dancing pro, 34, appeared on Lorraine on ITV this morning, where he spoke for the first time about the scandal that has engulfed the beloved BBC show last year.
Amanda Abbington, who quit Strictly after five weeks, made allegations against the Italian dancer, sparking a months-long investigation.
The findings of the probe were recently released, with the BBC issuing an apology to Sherlock actress Abbington, 53, while upholding some of her complaints, and clearing Pernice of the most serious allegations.
He had previously rejected ‘any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour’.
Pernice has now spoken out in his first TV interview since the verdict – but it hasn’t gone down well with fans.
Speaking to Christine Lampard, filling in for Lorraine Kelly, Pernice admitted feeling ‘relieved’ after the ‘difficult’ year he’d had.
He said: ‘From my certain point of view, I’m relieved the fact that the most serious allegations were thrown out. Yes six has been upheld but 11 hasn’t been upheld, which is again, the most serious were not.’
Saying he wanted to set the record straight, he reflected on how the most serious allegations have not been upheld, and said he had originally been ‘concerned’ about the accusations when he first heard of them.
Pernice continued: ‘When it comes to that one upheld we got some allegation of verbal bullying, as we say, I adapt with the person that will go in front of me, and vice versa. I think this is life like this.
‘If you’re in the room and we decide one sort of relationship within us too, I feel safe at that time, we were OK with it and was fine. Never been a difficulty of “Please don’t say this to me”. And the other allegation that was me being frustrated, which I recognise.’
Abbington has given several interviews over recent months, on Lorraine, with Channel 4’s Krishnan Guru-Murthy and on Newsnight.
Speaking about the probe, he said: ‘It’s good that Amanda came forward. It’s important if you don’t feel right. I’m glad that she did. I was actually pleased when the whole thing finished, yes it took longer than it should have took.’
He also insisted he’d never had an argument with Abbington and refused to answer questions about his other former dance partners speaking out, including Laura Whitmore, by saying he didn’t know ‘where to start’ as no other official complaints had been launched.
‘I wouldn’t change my teaching style, because it’s professional,’ he said, and claimed he had ‘no regrets’.
‘It’s in the public domain that I’m a strict teacher.’
Asked if he would change his style of teaching following the investigation, he said: ‘I wouldn’t change my teaching style because, in my opinion, it’s a profession, dancing is a very difficult thing to do. I have achieved four finals, I won the show with Rose (Ayling-Ellis), now I’m breaking records in Italy with Bianca (Guaccero)
‘I’ve potential got all the records in on Strictly, but it’s not to blow my own trumpet, I think it’s a difficult discipline, and for me, teaching, the way I teach, is the successful way to approach this. Yes, you could change the approach, but not changing the teaching style.’
His interview hasn’t gone down well with fans, who blasted him as ‘arrogant’.
@mrskerrypamela wrote: ‘Watching that #lorraine interview was uncomfortable , Christine was very biased in her approach and Giovanni came across arrogant and smirking a lot , think both parties had their faults , this has done him no favours at all.’
@geordiegalg said: ‘Sitting there smirking when Christine is reading out the allegations and explaining how he made some women feel is not a good look to say the least. Not sure this interview has gone how he expected.’
@BarryEv10216881 said: ‘what an arrogant and aggressive prick Giovanni comes across as. I believe Amanda Abington so much more now.’
‘There is something very arrogant about Giovanni. Especially for someone who has been investigated by the BBC and removed from Strictly. He clearly doesn’t realise his own failings,’ @BeckyTheStan added.
@georgiasromance said: ‘This interview hasn’t done Giovanni any favors he comes across arrogant and insincere.’
They added in a separate post: ‘I’ve always been a Giovanni fan and wanted to believe his side but that interview has changed my mind unfortunately. I think [there may be] some truth to her claims. He won’t be back on Strictly.’
Other fans however defended Pernice after the interview, with @pigletbaird saying: ‘I felt so sorry for giovanni today on Lorraine …. I haven’t read the reports nor do I want to but …. But there has been an investigation and outcomes have been reached … now let it stop …. And let people move on ….’
@Sasha_Fiercex added: ‘You need to remember that Giovanni is a professional and is only speaking in that manner. If she didn’t confront him at the time and tell him she was uncomfortable with his teaching style then how will he know.’
‘About time Giovanni got his chance to speak,’ @Andi000211 added, with @tvreality93 echoing: ‘It’s good to see Giovanni have his say at last.’
In his previous response to the BBC probe’s result, Pernice said in an Instagram post he was ‘happy’ he had been cleared of the serious allegations after a ‘difficult’ few months.
He said in a video to fans: ‘Six months, seven months of all of this, seven months of reading everyday things in the newspaper and not being able to respond because I wanted to keep the confidentiality and the privacy of the review, was a difficult time.
‘It was difficult because reading stuff that was untrue, wasn’t the nicest time of my life, let’s be honest.
‘But today I’m happy because at the beginning there were very very serious allegations thrown out at me but as of today, none of the serious allegations have been upheld.’
He went on: ‘I have to be honest with all of you because without your love, your messages, your support, your constant support, I don’t know if I would be able to even make this message right now.
‘I’m happy because today I can carry on to do what I was born to do, and I love to do which is entertain all of you.
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‘This is my life, this is what I do, so I’m always grateful to all of you and just want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, and saying that I love you all and always, always thank you.’