‘I lost all my friends’ - Strictly star Giovanni Pernice shares heartache after ‘bullying’ row

22 January 2025, 02:51

BAFTA winner Giovanni Pernice attends National Reality TV Awards.
BAFTA winner Giovanni Pernice attends National Reality TV Awards. Picture: Alamy

By Josef Al Shemary

Strictly Come Dancing star Giovanni Pernice has opened up about his heartbreak following his exit from the BBC show, saying “all the people that were supposed to be my friend disappeared.”

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The Strictly star said he lost all his friends after his exit from Strictly, saying his ‘world collapsed’ and he was left alone after Amanda Abbington’s allegations of bullying.

Abbington accused the Italian dancer of “inappropriate, mean, nasty bullying" and creating a “toxic environment.”

An investigation into the actress's complaints about Pernice followed, with the BBC upholding "some, but not all" of the allegations.

Pernice has always denied the allegations.

Speaking on the first night of his tour, Last Dance, in High Wycombe on Monday, Giovanni spoke between performances and opened up about his life before and after the allegations were levied against him.

Before his withdrawal from Strictly, Giovanni says: “I like to think I became quite successful. I was selling out everywhere.”

“I was on a TV show with my best friend so I felt like I was at the top of my game.

“I was untouchable - a superhero. I felt like I had my army… my audience. But fate did have different plans for me.”

Read more: Amanda Abbington says Giovanni Pernice made 'litany... of innuendo' at her during Strictly Come Dancing training

Read more: Axed Strictly star Giovanni Pernice 'wouldn't change' his teaching style after Amanda Abbington allegations

Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington are seen as training at Studio on October 9, 2023
Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington are seen as training at Studio on October 9, 2023. Picture: Getty

The Saturday night ballroom dancing show came under fire in the months following the scandal, as other celebrities reportedly made complaints against former professional dancers.

“You probably know it hasn't been the greatest year for me. I'm finally able to talk about it, I felt like the world collapsed.

“I didn't have anybody around me. People who were supposed to be my friends disappeared.

“I felt left alone. Nobody wanted to see me. They didn't want to be seen with me, because people would be like, 'Oh you're with him'.

He added that there was a voice in his head, telling him the scandal would be over some day and he didn’t need to worry.

Giovanni also thanked his 'idol', Queen’s Freddie Mercury, and said: “He would say to me, 'Giovanni, don't worry. Whatever happens, remember, the show has to go on.”

Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing' Live! dress rehearsal at Arena Birmingham, on January 18, 2018
Debbie McGee and Giovanni Pernice attend the 'Strictly Come Dancing' Live! dress rehearsal at Arena Birmingham, on January 18, 2018. Picture: Getty

Giovanni continued: “I'm still standing and thank god I did that tour last year with my best friend who was the support of my life.

Finishing off the show, the dancer said: 'Remember this is not the last tour, this is the last dance because I'm going to be back in the summer with my best friend on the best tour. I love you so much.”

Just last week, Giovanni said he would "love to go back" to Strictly Come Dancing but feels the BBC show will not have him back after the scandal.

Discussing whether he could return to Strictly this year, Pernice, 34, told The Mail On Sunday: "I think they have closed the book on that and everyone has moved on.

"I would love to go back to Strictly because Strictly changed my life. It is a massive show, but I don't think they're going to have me back. They're not.

"I'm upset as well. It's been a great, great, great 10 years. I achieved everything. But it's not my choice, it's not my decision. Everybody has moved on."

The professional dancer, who joined the BBC dance competition in 2015, suggested he could "maybe" return to the show in a few years.

His current tour will run until May.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Harry and Meghan at the opening ceremony for the Invictus Games.

Meghan and Prince Harry cheer on Team UK at Invictus Games opening ceremony

Daisy the Labrador.

Stolen dog reunited with family after seven years

Irish boxer John Cooney.

Boxer dies from a brain bleed, from injury during championship fight

'Make Europe Great Again' Rally In Madrid

'Make Europe Great Again': Far-right European political leaders praise Trump at Madrid meeting

Kanye West.

Rapper Kanye West advertises t-shirt featuring a Nazi swastika, after 'antisemitic rampage' on X

Andrew Gwynne.

Minister sacked after posting he hoped 'pensioner who didn’t vote Labour would die' in WhatsApp group

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road.

Two arrested as protesters clash with police outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

'She's terrible': Trump takes swipe at Meghan, but will not deport Prince Harry

Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted by a crowd as they arrive in the Gaza Strip after being released from an Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

Emotional scenes in West Bank and Gaza as Palestinians reunited with their families after release from Israeli prisons

Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice Dasilva Aguiar and Bebe King.

'She was grateful for life': parents of Southport stabbing victims pay tribute to their children

Israeli hostage reunited with his family.

Emotional moment Israeli hostages reunite with families after being paraded on stage by Hamas

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road at the rally.

Protesters clash with police as thousands rally outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

The father of the Huszti sisters has said he believes his daughters were "kidnapped" and "cruelly killed"

Heartbroken father of sisters found dead in River Dee believes they were 'lured to their death'

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star breaks silence over death of mum found dead in French villa with her husband

Harvey Willgoose's parents Caroline Willgoose (left) and Mark (right) holder a banner as they march to Bramall Lane in memory of their son

Hundreds gather for memorial march after 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose stabbed to death at school in Sheffield

Police tell locals to stay away from Jeremy Clarkson’s pub due to large gathering of pony and traps

Police tell locals to stay away from Jeremy Clarkson’s pub due to large gathering of pony and traps