Amanda Abbington's parents feel "sorry" for Giovanni Pernice.
Amanda Abbington's parents discuss Giovanni Pernice controversy
The 50-year-old actress has alleged that the 33-year-old professional dancer was abusive to her during training for 'Strictly Come Dancing' and her parents John and Patsy have admitted they spend all day worrying about the controversy.
John told Mail+: "I'd feel sorry for him if Amanda wasn't the one involved in this. Like other dancers on 'Strictly' he was put in a situation where he was expected to train people when he'd not been taught how to train.
"They were let out of dance school at a young age. Giovanni started at 'Strictly' at 21 or 22. How on earth can you train people when you've not been trained to do that?"
Patsy added: "We just want it dealt with."
John went on: "As soon as I wake up in the mornings and when I go to bed at night I am worrying about it. It's the after effects I worry about too. Will she be able to carry on with her career?"
Patsy said: "She has apologised to us because of what we're going through. It's been hard."
Meanwhile, Giovanni “rejects any claim” he was “threatening or abusive” towards Amanda during their ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ rehearsals.
He added he had never threatened the actress after she said in a round of press interviews she had been subjected to “humiliating behaviour” of a “sexual nature” while making the series – while stressing she was not claiming to have been a victim of sexual harassment.
In a statement issued to ITV, Giovanni’s lawyers said about the ongoing BBC probe into the claims: “We would urge people to wait for the review’s conclusion and not to pay heed to very serious and defamatory allegations that have no evidence in support of them.
“Giovanni rejects any claim of threatening or abusive behaviour, and having provided the BBC with his evidence, is confident that the review will prove this.”
The lawyers added Giovanni was “cooperating fully” with the BBC’s review and added “all parties” have been “asked to respect this process and to not speak to the media before it concludes”.
They concluded: “As part of the evidence-led review, the BBC has shared the allegations it has been able to substantiate with us. They do not resemble Amanda’s latest allegations, given to ITV, in any shape or form.”
‘Sherlock’ actress Amanda had told Channel 4 there are 50 hours of rehearsal room footage exposing the alleged toxic atmosphere behind the scenes of ‘Strictly’ – which she said was being “blocked” during the BBC’s investigation.
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