Giovanni Pernice breaks silence with defiant post as he's axed from Strictly (2024)

Professional dancer Giovanni Pernice has finally broken his silence following his axe from BBC dance competition Strictly Come Dancing as he defiantly shows he will continue to keep dancing

Giovanni Pernice has finally broken his silence after he was axed from Strictly Come Dancing after nine years as he defiantly keeps dancing.

The professional dancer, 33, has been at the centre of controversy for months following his most recent stint on the BBC dance competition for allegations into his behaviour that he denied. He was paired with actress Amanda Abbington, who quit the show early and later claimed to have suffered from PTSD. The BBC was said to have launched an internal investigation after receiving complaints from his previous celebrity dance partners on the show.

The line-up for the latest series of Strictly has been revealed, and Giovanni's name was not among the professional dancers returning. Breaking his silence following the news of his brutal dumping from the show, Giovanni posted a clip on his Instagram Stories of him back in dance training.

In the video Giovanni could be seen taking charge in leading a series of group dance sessions. He simply added three love heart emojis to the post - defiantly showing fans he is not giving up on his passion for dance. The dancer will also be back on stage tomorrow night alongside pal and Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke.

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His clip was also shared on Ballando's own account as fans expressed their delight at seeing Giovanni back to work on the dancefloor. One said: "How lucky are we to be taught by the best," to which Ballando replied: "Very!" Another added: "This video in itself speaks volumes… The biggest and best dance fam." Someone else commented: "Can't wait. Gio is the best teacher." Ballando offer dance workshops across the country with Giovanni as well as Strictly Come Dancing judges. Giovanni will join Anton and Shirley Ballas at the next session in London at the end of the month.

Fan favourites including Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas and Vito Coppola will all be back.

It came after rumours he wasn't set to join the 2024 cast as a leaked internal memo didn't feature Giovanni's name among this year's roster of professional dancers. He started on Strictly in 2015 when he reached the final with Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote. Giovanni lifted the Strictly glitterball trophy alongside EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis, who was the first deaf contestant to win.

He previously rejected allegations of “abusive or threatening behaviour” and said he looks “forward to clearing my name”. A legal firm acting on behalf of the complainants said the broadcaster is “evidence gathering”, but the BBC has not confirmed any probe has begun.

Since news of his Strictly exit, professional dancers and celebrities have showed their support to Giovanni. Former show professional Kristina Rihanoff spoke out in support of the star as she called him one of the show's best dancers and choreographers. Speaking on This Morning, she said: "The news, I'm very saddened because I think when you lose one of the best choreographers and dancers on the show, as a professional dancer, I can say that it is very sad as he produced some very memorable dances and took quite a few of his celebrity partners through to the final. So from a professional point of view, I think the show will lose a wonderful dancer and choreographer."

Giovanni's former celebrity partner Debbie McGee has showed her support throughout the past few months and declared she was "heartbroken" by the decision. Sharing a photo of the two of them on the show, the 65-year-old wrote on Instagram : "I am heartbroken for @giovannipernice My experience on Strictly will always be happy and life changing. Gio nurtured me through my grief and gave me confidence I could do things I thought was beyond me."

Former Strictly professional dancer James Jordan weighed in on the row as he claimed "there is no smoke without fire". James claimed it was a "shame" the fallout between Sherlock actress Amanda and Giovanni has resulted in his exit. He added: "The only thing I will say… is there’s no smoke without fire."

Speaking on This Morning, he said: "I’ve always protected the professional dancers, we don’t know the ins and outs of it, and as Kristina said, unless we see the footage but I’m sure there’s legal reasons and the BBC I feel have dealt with it very well… now, whether or not Giovanni has decided not to come back or the BBC have asked him not to come back, I’d be curious to see what the answer to that is. I feel the BBC have dealt with it pretty well, but there’s no smoke without fire. I’d be devastated if one of my previous celebrity partners came forward, saying I was abusive or not treating them nice in training. But he’s had four, if it was just one… you’d say: ‘Okay, maybe a massive clash of characters!’"

The dancer has set up two businesses away from Strictly - a candle business and his own fragrance called VITA. The fragrances retails at £63.75 for 100ml. And the tagline for the heavily marketed scent is that it's the "new intoxicating scent from Giovanni Pernice which captures the sensuality, vitality and energy of Sicily."

In April this year, he filed Rock You Productions Ltd at Companies House alongside Paul Irving, who produced his recent tour, Let Me Entertain You as well as several other Strictly stars' tours. This business is described as an "operation of the arts facilities", which hints that he's attempting to start his own dance school. He also has his own tour starting next year which sees him travel across the country.

Giovanni and Anton are set to embark on their tour this week, with the Strictly judge proving he is backing the dancer. Anton liked an Instagram post from Together’s official account last week, suggesting there are no plans to cancel the tour and he remains on good terms with Giovanni. Alongside a photo of the two BBC stars with their arms around each other, an accompanying caption read: “6 more days until Opening!!! The countdown begins!!! TOGETHER TOUR 2024.”

Giovanni previously shared a statement to his fans as he denied the allegations. He said: "To my dear fans, 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!"

It has been claimed three female celebrities are taking action against Giovanni and last week, reports claimed a male celebrity has joined the unnamed women. He is said to have been in touch with the lawyers acting for the other complainants. Amanda slammed Giovanni in a recent interview as she insisted that she requested their practice sessions to be recorded.

Amanda said: "I asked for them to be recorded, it was me." The actress added: "Giovanni is nasty. He was awful to a few of us, a group of us." Amanda revealed that the backlash since her revelations has been "awful", and claimed: "Giovanni's fans have started trolling me now. I have had to come off social media and I'm getting death threats."

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