Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas reunited with Giovanni Pernice over the weekend after admitting she would stick by the Italian dancer “forever” amid the ongoing “bullying” claims made by Amanda Abbington.
Abbington claimed she had PTSD due to her time on the BBC dancing competition and blasted Pernice as being a “nasty” individual – with her actions leading to three more former partners to come forward.
Whilst the BBC stars are receiving help from Carter Ruck, Pernice has continued to vehemently deny the claims and vowed to clear his name, with the help of London law firm Schillings.
The BBC investigation is said to continue on throughout the rest of the year and left the bosses of the show to impose a ban on the returning professionals from speaking about the allegations – something which Dianne Buswell and Vito Coppola recently adhered to.
However, over the weekend Ballas reunited with the 33-year-old and fellow judge Anton Du Beke at Pernice’s Ballando dance school for an event which saw fans attend what appeared to be a masterclass dance lesson.
As she walked on stage to teach a Jive, Ballas threw her support behind the former Strictly pro and told the attendees that it was an “honour and privilege” to be at the workshop with Pernice and added: “I’ve known him for 10 years and we’re good friends.
She offered a “huge thank you” to the Latin and Ballroom champion for hosting the workshop and continued: “I will be one person who will be by his side forever. What you see is what you get with him.”
Further enhancing her support and love for Pernice, she went on to discuss his caring side and noted that when her mother Audrey was battling cancer, he was a source of comfort for her.
“He was by my side and even when we were both so busy he would always ask how she was. We were at an event with a bunch of VIPs and me and mum were on the other side of the room but Giovanni moved past them all to come and speak to us.”
Their support for Pernice sparked the “ban” from producers, with an insider telling The Sun last month: “We’re just a few weeks away from the 2024 cast reveal and bosses are worried the scandal is now dangerously close to overshadowing the new series.
“A lot of work has gone into it as it’s the 20th anniversary, and now – still – all anyone talks about is Giovanni. Shirley launching such a passionate defence of him was far from helpful and stoked the flames. Bosses hope gagging the cast will help.”
The head judge spoke to virginradio.co.uk at the 2024 TRIC Awards to tease the upcoming Strictly series, and insisted the celeb line-up is the “most fantastic.”
Careful to avoid any hints, she said: “I think you’re going to be surprised at some of the people that they’ve managed to get on this show.”
The support from Ballas comes after Abbington recently denied knowing the mystery “friend” who has been asking for “victims” to speak out against Pernice.
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According to the Sun, an anonymous member of the TV Mindset, a social media forum for TV industry workers, said on the forum: “It is important to hear as many accounts as possible from others who were treated inappropriately, had grievances, or potentially identify others that were.
“This is crucial in supporting Amanda’s case, as well as potentially anyone else’s. It is also ultimately to support all freelancers and the industry as a whole by standing up to such practices.”
The poster reportedly assured anyone coming forward: “Sources would be protected,” with the outlet reporting that an email for responses was given as scdallies@gmail.com – which is believed to be short for “Strictly Come Dancing Allies”.
When approached for a comment, Abbington’s representatives told The Mirror: “Whoever is doing this is outside of our knowledge. First time we are hearing about it.”
