12 January 2024 , 23:12
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Giovanni Pernice possibly revealed the reason he and Amanda Abbington clashed on Strictly Come Dancing months before the pair even met!
Sherlock star Amanda left the BBC dance competition in week five due to "medical reasons" in October, but it's since been suggested that she is considering legal advice after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because of her time on the show - hinting that Giovanni was a tough teacher.
Despite claims that his 2023 dance partner has requested backstage footage of their training sessions, the BBC bosses are reportedly backing him up. "The feeling is he is a tough taskmaster, but hasn't bullied or abused anyone. The BBC see him as a key face of Strictly and will do all they can to support him," a source told the Mirror earlier this week.
Giovanni addressed the scandal for the first time online on Wednesday night, as he launched a new business venture and thanked fans for their support, while Amanda has been inactive on Instagram since reports regarding her allegations emerged.
As Strictly fans try and figure out why Amanda and Giovanni didn't get on behind the scenes, despite impressing judges on the dancefloor, Giovanni's past comments perhaps reveal the answer to their questions.
EastEnders' Jake Wood's snap of son has fans pointing out the pair's likeness
Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice had great chemistry on the dancefloor (BBC/Guy Levy)
But the two stars reportedly clashed when rehearsing for Strictly Come DancingSpeaking to The Guardian in August 2022, almost a year on from lifting the Glitterball trophy with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis in 2021, the Italian dancer revealed just how much winning meant to him - and how he desire to reign supreme was impacting his future pairings.
"There are no distractions. Then came the experience of winning – something I became addicted to," he told the publication one year before being partnered with Amanda. "The first time I won a competition I thought, 'Being the champion feels nice. Let me have more of it!'"
Amid the drama surrounding him, Giovanni took to social media earlier this week to talk about happier things - seemingly taking a dig at Amanda and the "negative" Strictly saga. The popular dance has just launched his own perfume called VITA, which means 'Life' in Italian, and shared his new venture on Instagram on Wednesday night.
As her shared a photo of himself and a model in a pool, showcasing his new fragrance, Giovanni told his fans: "My aim in launching VITA was to create products to inspire and bring joy to life, and to explore another creative outlet for my passions. My fragrance VITA (Italian for life) is just that, a celebration of life."
Giovanni continued, possibly hinting at recent drama: "Of positivity when there is obviously so much around us which can be a cause for the opposite. We are starting this journey with high hopes and ambitions, and with many more products in the pipeline. I hope you enjoy VITA as much as I loved creating it, as this image from our launch photoshoot shows! Our New Year sale is also now on, so grab yourself a bargain today at gpvita.com. Giovanni."
Fans of the Strictly star quickly filled the comments with supportive messages. One fan told him: "The UK love you! Best professional on strictly. I love seeing you live each year on tour! Great entertainer, genuine kind, funny and of course amazing dancer!"
"We love you Gio! We know that isn't your character and will continue to support you in all your endeavours," one fan wrote under Giovanni's announcement. Another added: "Stay positive @giovannipernice You have a lot to celebrate and a lot to be thankful for. The people who matter the most, family, friends and supporters will share in your success, support you in times of need and teach you the true values and blessings of life."