Amanda Abbington recently made headlines following a public apology from the BBC regarding her experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. The apology comes after Abbington raised serious concerns about her treatment while partnered with Giovanni Pernice during the 2023 season. Here are more details on the case.
BBC apologizes to Amanda Abbington over bullying scandal
The BBC has issued an apology to Amanda Abbington, acknowledging some of her complaints against her 2023 Strictly Come Dancing partner, Giovanni Pernice, while dismissing the more serious allegations. The review upheld complaints of verbal bullying and harassment but did not substantiate claims of physical aggression. (via BBC)
Abbington referred to the BBC’s apology as a “vindication” of her stance. She expressed hope that it would empower others to come forward about their experiences. Pernice has consistently denied Abbington’s claims of being “unnecessary, abusive, cruel, and mean” during their rehearsals. He was relieved that the allegations of being threatening and abusive were found to be untrue.
The BBC stated that the production team took steps to address the issues as they arose but acknowledged that these measures were insufficient. They emphasized the importance of new protocols implemented to ensure the well-being of participants moving forward.
Abbington revealed that she initially raised concerns about Pernice’s behavior shortly after joining the show and had multiple discussions with producers. After withdrawing from the competition in week six due to “medical” and “personal reasons,” she later filed a formal complaint. Since making her allegations public, Abbington has faced significant backlash, including threats against her and her family.
Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, remarked on the online abuse Abbington suffered and personally apologized to her. The review examined 17 complaints in total, with six being upheld. However, the details of these findings remain confidential to protect all parties involved. Earlier this year, the BBC confirmed that Pernice would not return for the new season of Strictly Come Dancing, and he has since joined the cast of Italy’s Ballando con le Stelle.
In her response, Abbington emphasized the difficulty of coming forward, recalling the accusations and threats she faced in the aftermath. She said, “Despite this vile abuse, I’ve never regretted coming forward, and today’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my complaint.”
