BBCThe BBC has apologised to Amanda Abbington and upheld a few of her complaints towards her 2023 Strictly dance associate Giovanni Pernice, however cleared him of essentially the most severe allegations.
Whereas complaints of verbal bullying and harassment had been upheld, claims of bodily aggression weren’t, BBC Information understands.
The Sherlock actress referred to as the BBC’s apology a “vindication” of her grievance and stated she hoped others would now really feel “extra assured” that they’d be believed.
A supply near Pernice stated he was “happy that this has been thrown out”, including that the previous 9 months had been “torrid” for him.
In its assertion, the BBC stated that the manufacturing crew did take steps to handle the problems on the time however acknowledged that “finally, these weren’t sufficient”.
“For this reason the measures we’ve got taken to additional strengthen our present protocols are so essential,” it stated.
Abbington had beforehand accused Pernice of being “pointless, abusive, merciless and imply” throughout their rehearsals, which he had all the time strongly denied.
In an announcement launched on Monday, the BBC stated it takes allegations of bullying and harassment “very severely”, including the assessment into Abbington’s complaints had taken time “resulting from its advanced nature” and with a view to guarantee “a rigorous and sturdy course of”.
“We’ve got assessed the complaints and we’ve got upheld some, however not all, of the complaints made,” it stated.
“We wish to apologise to Amanda Abbington and to thank her for coming ahead and collaborating. We all know this could not have been a straightforward factor to do.”
Getty PicturesIn latest media interviews, Abbington has stated she first raised considerations about Pernice’s behaviour with Strictly producers on her third day, and had “many” extra discussions with programme bosses.
She ultimately dropped out in week six, expressing her “deepest remorse” at having to depart the present for “medical” and “private causes”. She later lodged a proper grievance about Pernice.
The actress has since claimed the BBC had recognized about his behaviour for years. She has additionally stated she and her household had acquired loss of life threats after she spoke out.
Charlotte Moore, chief content material officer for the BBC, instructed BBC Information that it was “horrible” Abbington had been subjected to on-line abuse, and personally apologised to Abbington twice.
Responding to the BBC’s assertion on Monday, Abbington stated that coming ahead “was not a straightforward factor to do”.
“Within the days, weeks and months since I contacted the BBC, I’ve been accused of being a liar, a troublemaker and of being “mad and unstable”.
“I’ve additionally acquired rape and homicide threats and a bomb menace was despatched to my administrative center. My household and youngsters have additionally been subjected to threats and intimidation.”
“Regardless of this vile abuse, I’ve by no means regretted coming ahead, and as we speak’s apology from the BBC is a vindication of my grievance.
“It’s not only a vindication for me, it’s a vindication for the opposite individuals who have contacted me since I made my grievance to specific considerations about their very own experiences on Strictly Come Dancing. I hope those that have felt unable to talk out now can be extra assured that they are going to be listened to and believed.”
Abbington added that the BBC had invited her to satisfy with senior administration and that she can be contemplating this.
“This apology means an awesome deal to me. So too does the truth that the BBC have acknowledged the steps that had been put in place to help and shield me and previous contestants had been “not sufficient”.
“What issues most now’s that classes have been realized and that the BBC makes the adjustments they’ve promised, to make sure others don’t expertise the identical ordeal that I and others like me did.”
A supply near Pernice stated: “Gio is happy that this has been thrown out after what has been a torrid 9 months or so for him.
“From the outset, Giovanni has rejected any claims of threatening or abusive behaviour.
“Whereas it appreciates that the BBC has doubtless determined to uphold some allegations to keep away from the accusations of a ‘whitewash’ – they’ve upheld the weakest allegations put to him.'”
The BBC introduced a string of recent measures in July, embody introducing chaperones in all rehearsal rooms, in addition to together with two new welfare producers on the present
Earlier this yr, the BBC confirmed that Pernice wouldn’t return to the Strictly skilled line-up for the brand new collection.
The brand new collection of Strictly Come Dancing launched on BBC One earlier this month.
Pernice has now joined his native Italy’s expertise dance present, Ballando con le Stelle.
