Strictly’s Shirley Ballas doubles down on Giovanni Pernice support amid BBC probe
Shirley Ballas has spoken out once again in favour of Strictly pal and professional Giovanni Pernice, who was axed from the programme amid rumours of alleged ’abusive’ behaviour.
Giovanni Pernice has received support from Shirley Ballas as the Strictly star has spoken out in his favour again.
During a press chat this Saturday, July 6, the ballroom dancer said, in reference to the internal probe targeting the Sicilian over at the BBC: "I’ve known Giovanni for 10 years, and he’s a good friend of mine. But I’m not involved on any side of that [the investigation]."
"I think before I speak, and I stay in my lane, which is ballroom dancing. I think everybody goes into Strictly with the best will in the world to entertain the country.”
Questioned over her Strictly Come Dancing co-stars, she said she couldn’t comment on what ’the thoughts are [of the professionals when teaching the celebrities].’ She said that the other professionals are ’doing their thing’ and added that in the industry, ’everybody is very competitive’.
"You don’t want to kill their enthusiasm or the thought that they can be the Glitterball champion. So, I think sometimes, words can be cruel and people deliver them in not a great way. I learned the difference."
"I can be super-strict when somebody is trying to win the gold medal, then I can still be quite strict but in a positive way on Strictly so they will learn something. That’s always ongoing for me. I’m always searching for the best way I can bring great constructive criticism."
Shirley, who has spoken out for Giovanni on several occasions, has also invited him to her upcoming summer bash, which she hosts every year: "He’s going to pop along to the party, I have no idea if he will come back to the show [if the investigation finds in his favour]"
She insisted during her chat with The Sun: "I don’t get involved in the process. That’s outside my lane. Hopefully, things will get resolved and sorted. And then, you know… we’ll see."
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. She spoke out in support of the Italian professional dancer in recent weeks and said he is ’a hard worker’.
She said: "I know he is a hard worker. 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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