Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Ian Waite has hit out at the BBC for completely dismissing the harsh reality of ballroom dancing, amid the bullying scandal surrounding Giovanni Pernice.
Amanda Abbington quit the series last year after she claimed she'd been on the receiving end of Giovanni's abusive behaviour while rehearsing for the live shows. And on the back of her claims, and ones from two other celebrities including Laura Whitmore, the BBC has launched an investigation into the claims.
But Ian, 53, who is set to go on tour with Brendan Cole, James Jordan, Vincent Simone and Pasha Kovalev, for their Legends Of The Dancefloor tour, has come out and said show bosses are more concerned with showing the positive side of routines and rehearsals. In an interview with Weekend magazine, Ian said: "Me and Zoe Ball went through a rollercoaster. The highs were really high but the lows were low. In those days they showed the tears and the frustrations but nowadays they don’t so much, it’s more about the positive stuff."
Before competing on a professional level, Ian said some of his coaches could have been accused brutality, including Strictly's head judge Shirley Ballas. He said: "I used to have lessons with Shirley between the ages of 17 and 22 and she was a b***breaker. But that was why she was so good. She was the most amazing coach."
Earlier this week, Amanda was forced to deny knowing the identity of the person behind an online account asking about information on Giovanni that could support Amanda's case. A mystery account has been set up on industry forums asking for those who have worked with Giovanni to "come forward", claiming: "This is crucial in supporting Amanda's case."
It has been reported that the mystery account is a friend of Amanda's but a spokesman for the actress denied having any knowledge and claimed the person who set up the account was acting "without our knowledge." The BBC launched an investigation into the allegations. Amid the furore, Giovanni has denied the claims made against him.
According to the Sun, an anonymous user of the TV Mindset, a social media forum for TV industry workers, said: "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."
Giovanni released a statement as he strongly denied the allegations. He said: "To my fans and followers, Every week, there are totally untrue stories about me in the media. As you know, I have always rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour. The latest accusations are simply false. I am cooperating fully with the ongoing BBC investigation, which will determine the truth."
He added: "As requested, I have stayed silent, but I am looking forward to the conclusion of the investigation and ultimately clearing my name and establishing the truth. I am so happy to be back on tour. Thank you all for your continued support – you messages and love mean so very much to me. I will hopefully see many of you very soon and I look forward to clearing my name. With love, Giovanni."
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