Shirley Ballas embraces axed Strictly star Giovanni Pernice and says 'I'm beyond proud'
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas had a sweet reunion with axed professional dancer Giovanni Pernice as she told him 'I'm beyond proud of you'
Strictly Come Dancing head judge Shirley Ballas has continued to prove her loyalties to Giovanni Pernice following his axe from the show. The professional dancer was caught up in scandal following his 2023 stint with actress Amanda Abbington.
Following a series of allegations about bullying behviour, Giovanni left Strictly and will not be returning for the 2025 series either. Amid the investigation into the professional dancer, Shirley was vocal about showing her support.
She has continued to stand by the star after he decided to take a break from the public eye following the scandal. He recently won the Italian version of Strictly and has returned to the UK for a series of dance project.
His passion is clearly still alive as he performed a sold-out show at the London Palladium as part of his Last Dance tour. Shirley made sure to support Giovanni as she watched from the audience and made sure to catch up with him backstage afterwards.
Sharing photos from the reunion, Shirley said: "Amazing and beyond the stars… Gio set the night on fire last night @giovannipernice.
"Congratulations on a superb closing show to if last night is anything to go by a remarkable last dance tour. So many fabulous numbers, dancers, singers to which all were revived with standing ovations.
"You entertain, you inspire and you bring the house down. I only hope when I do my one night at the Palladium that I could wish for a reception like that. Truly amazing."
She added: "Congratulations and well done my friend @giovannipernice I'm beyond proud of you x."
Amanda Abbington accused Giovanni of bullying after they competed together on the 2023 series together. They worked together for five weeks before Amanda pulled out for "personal reasons".
However, the BBC then launched an investigation into the professional, who has since apologised to Amanda. Complaints of bullying and harassment were upheld by the report, but claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not.
Amanda called it a "vindication of [my] complaint", while Giovanni said he was "happy" the more serious allegations had been thrown out. It upheld six of her 16 claims, mainly relating to the former pro's swearing.
Following the BBC's decision, Shirley said that she had been through bulling herself and that she "feels for the person" who wanted the accusations addressed.
She said: "I don't condone bullying – I've been through it myself. So if things aren't right or need addressing, I feel for the person that wants them addressed.
"And I think that's a big, important part – that everybody gets to say their thing. But now the investigation is over and everybody can move on."
The Strictly head judge previously spoke to the Mirror during the TRIC Awards in the wake of it being confirmed that Giovanni wasn't returning to the BBC dance competition.
"I know he is a hard worker," she told us. "He wants the people to do the very best that they can do. Obviously in my life I was bullied a lot.
"I don't condone bullying on any path but also I don't believe gossip and what you read in the newspapers because things get escalated and they are blown way out of all proportion and it can turn into a great big snowball.
"So my feeling for Giovanni is, let them do this investigation or whatever it is they are doing and the truth will come out. So we don't judge anybody until I know absolutely 100 per cent.
"I won't pass on the gossip unless I know 100 per cent it is true. I have never ever, ever experienced any ill will or bad feeling or bad sportsmanship or rudeness from him. He will be missed."
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