Zara McDermott Issues Statement On Strictly’s Giovanni Di Prima

Ex-Strictly contestant Zara McDermott has damaged her silence on the firing of her former accomplice Graziano Di Prima, saying that watching movies again of her time on the present has been “extremely distressing.”

Di Prima has left the lineup of the BBC stalwart this 12 months after allegations of “gross misconduct” towards certainly one of his feminine movie star companions, which was rapidly revealed to be McDermott, a former Love Island contestant who has helmed various BBC documentaries. Di Prima has apologized and stated he “deeply regrets the occasions.”

Posting on Instagram at present, McDermott stated: “I’ve wrestled with the concern of opening up – I used to be scared about public backlash, I used to be scared about my future, I used to be fearful of sufferer shaming. However after a number of conversations with these I really like, I’ve gained the energy to face these fears, and once I was requested to talk to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the present.”

Whereas “your complete manufacturing workforce and everybody behind the scenes in addition to my fellow contestants had been so superb to work with,” McDermott stated her “expertise contained in the coaching room was very totally different,” including that “there have been witnesses to some occasions in addition to movies of explicit incidents that are extremely distressing to look at.”

McDermott thanked the BBC and producer BBC Studios for his or her “swift motion and extremely excessive stage of assist.” “Strictly is without doubt one of the most magical exhibits on TV and one which I dreamt of being on since I used to be a bit woman,” she added.

Di Prima’s exit in these circumstances has landed one other blow on the BBC’s hottest leisure present, this 12 months celebrating its 20^th anniversary, nonetheless one of many UK’s hottest TV exports with variations of Dancing With the Stars exhibiting in nations the world over.

One other widespread dancer Giovanni Pernice has introduced he’s to go away the present, following allegations by a star accomplice, actress Amanda Abbington, that she suffered PTSD after coaching with him. Pernice denies all reviews of inappropriate behaviour, and the BBC’s investigation is continuous.