The star appeared on the show back in 2016 and says she made complaints at the timeLAURA Whitmore yesterday made the bombshell revelation that she complained to the BBC eight years ago about Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice’s “inappropriate” behaviour.
In a new twist to the bullying storm, the ex-Love Island host said she and six other people had spoken to BBC investigators probing Amanda Abbington’s complaint.
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Laura Whitmore has confirmed she has spoken to the BBC
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The star was surprised to learn her experience wasn’t isolatedCredit: Getty
It is the first time anyone apart from Amanda has publicly spoken out over Giovanni, even though Laura did not name him.
Laura, who danced with Giovanni in 2016, said after hearing Amanda’s story that she realised her own experience showed there was “a pattern of behaviour”.
In an Instagram post, the presenter made it clear she felt compelled to speak out in support of Sherlock actress Amanda over the “victim blaming”.
She said her ordeal was “wrong” and she hopes it “won’t happen to anyone else again”.
Her damning statement will increase pressure on the BBC to not wrap up their inquiry next week — which they are planning to do ahead of the new series starting in September.
Laura, 39, said: “I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete, but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight.
“I was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people that I know of, about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual. I initially raised concerns back in 2016.
Amanda’s experience
“I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong. The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour I believe needs to stop. My evidence is to support other people’s experience. It’s a shame it takes this for someone to be heard.
“I am not looking for anything, just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again.
“Because I have not made an official complaint, and am providing evidence of my experience to support the investigation, not all the communication will be passed on to all parties involved.
“Victim blaming must stop or we’ll never get better.”
A source close to mum-of-one Laura, who is married to Love Island narrator and comedian Iain Stirling, said: “Laura is a hard-working, professional TV veteran and wouldn’t have complained unless something was really wrong.
“She can take comments about her appearance like water off a duck’s back, but some of the lewd jibes Giovanni made went too far.
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Amanda was the first to speak out about what happened on the show
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Laura has said she was left in tears while training with GiovanniCredit: BBC
Laura Whitmore’s Strictly statement in full
I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight.
I was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people that I know of (who deserve anonymity as they don’t want to be dragged through the press), about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual. I initially raised concerns back in 2016.
I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned 1 was wrong. The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop.
My evidence is to support other people’s experience. It’s a shame it takes this for someone to be heard. I am not looking for anything just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again,
Because I have not made an official complaint, and am providing evidence of my experience to support the investigation, not all the communication will be passed on to all parties involved.
Misinformation is being put into the press so I want to set the record straight. Victim blaming must stop or we will never get better. I’ve tried to speak up in the correct way. I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up.
Laura’s tears
“She also has photographic evidence of training injuries, which show her bruised black and blue. She has been inundated with messages of support from friends and only put her head above the parapet because she knows that what went on was wrong and doesn’t want it to happen to anyone else.
“She has work projects with the BBC, but feels she needs to say this publicly as she wants to stop the victim shaming and the sexist tropes that are being bandied about by some media outlets.”
Laura has previously said she was “placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with and in the end I felt broken, I cried every day”.
Meanwhile, The Sun on Sunday can reveal the BBC has deleted hours of footage showing what happened in the rehearsal room between Amanda, 50, and 33-year-old Giovanni.
A source close to the probe said: “It is astonishing, it means the investigation is flawed.
“Without it, Amanda knew there was little chance she would be believed. So to now be told hours of footage have been deleted has left her shocked.
“Why was it deleted? Who decided to delete it? And does the BBC have something to hide?”
Earlier this month, The Sun on Sunday revealed how Sicilian pro dancer Graziano Di Prima, 30, was sacked for kicking celeb partner Zara McDermott, 27.
Last week, BBC Director- General Tim Davie apologised.
He said: “I’m sorry that anyone has had an experience on Strictly that hasn’t been wholly positive.”
On the question of the deleted footage, a BBC spokesman said: “Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals.”
The BBC did not comment on Laura Whitmore’s statement. Giovanni denies all wrongdoing.
Strictly’s Full Scandal So Far
Strictly Come Dancing’s scandal has been growing over the past few months, with several major players speaking out about what went on. Here are the key moments of what’s happened so far
16th May: Giovanni Pernice sensationally quits Strictly Come Dancing after nine years on the show.
17th May: Giovanni becomes the centre of an official investigation after three former partners – believed to be Amanda Abbington, Laura Whitmore and Ranvir Singh – make complaints to the BBC.
16th June: Giovanni releases an official statement vowing to clear his name and denies any wrongdoing.
8th July: Strictly confirms Aljaz Skorjanec will return to the series, replacing Giovanni, after initially quitting the show two years ago.
10th July: Amanda Abbington launches fresh legal proceedings to get the rehearsal footage from her time with Giovanni, after allegedly he refused to release the videos.
13th July: Graziano Di Prima is axed from Strictly for “gross misconduct” after footage of his treatment of Zara McDermott is brought to the attention of the BBC.
Graziano quickly broke his silence, apologising for his behaviour in a statement and saying he “deeply regrets it”, adding his “intense passion and determination to win might have affected his training regime.”
15th July: Strictly bosses implement new duty of care protocols, including having a chaperone present throughout all rehearsals.
16th July: Zara McDermott speaks out publicly for first time. She states while the production team were “amazing to work with”, she found the rehearsal room “completely different”, confirming there’s footage of “certain situations”.
19th July: Anton Du Beke is put under the spotlight for his “1970s attitude” and treatment of female celeb stars, particularly after allegedly referring to 2009 partner Laila Rouass as a “p***” after getting a spray tan.
21st July: Paralympian Will Bayley, who has limb condition arthrogryposis, revealed he was encouraged to leap from a table during a dance routine, despite fears. The stunt caused an injury that forced him to withdraw from the show.
22nd July: MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace admits he broke down in tears and got a nasty stress rash on his face during his time on Strictly in 2014.
23rd July: Celebrity agent Melanie Blake claims she was sexually assaulted by an unnamed pro dancer while backstage on the show, and claims she witnessed ageism, rudeness and a rough treatment to the point of injury.
23rd July: BBC boss Tim Davie breaks his silence on the ongoing allegations against Strictly, saying he is ‘deeply sorry’, adding: “Hundreds of people, be they pros, contestants or crew have been part of it and had a brilliant experience.
“At the same time if someone thinks there was something wrong or they want to talk about their experience then of course we want them to raise that with us. Be in no doubt we will take it seriously, listen and deal with it as appropriate.”
