Overview of the Situation:-
Has apologized to the former Strictly Come Downs contestant Amanda Abington saying that it assessed and upheld some but not all of her complaints uh the Press Association understands that the findings that she made against the Daner Giovani panichi there were no findings relating to physical aggression but complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld and in the last few moment we had a very strongly worded statement from Amanda Abington herself .
Timeline of the Investigation:-
Let’s bring in our art and entertainment correspondent Spence is outside new broadcasting house for us Katie this is a shadow that’s been hanging over uh the current series of Strictly Come Dancing which just started a couple of weeks ago they the very much wanted to get this report out of the way before the series started but wasn’t able to what do you make of of what the have announced and what amander is now saying look it’s certainly interesting that is it has taken them that long to reach this decision yes they would have wanted to clear this well before uh the start of the new season but think because and they admit in their statement the complex nature of the accusations .
Response from Amanda Abbington:-
That were being leveled by Amanda Abington because it is so complex it has taken them a while to process effectively what they they say here is appeases everyone Amanda Abington they uh say uh some as you say just then while complaints of verbal bullying and harassment were upheld claims of physical aggression were not Giovani panich has has always strongly denied any suggestion of abusive or threatening behavior the in their statement said they want to apologize to Amanda Abington.
And her for coming forward because they say that they understand that it wouldn’t have been an easy thing to do and we know from what Amanda Abington has said uh the The Fallout from her speaking publicly about jvan panichi and the allegations that she was making against him were death threats against her family and just a a complete backlash from the public and she has put out a state in response to the findings she said uh the has indicated today in its statement my decision to come forward and complain about Giovani pich’s conduct towards me was not not an easy thing to do in the days weeks and months since been accused of being a liar of being mad and unstable.
Current Status of Giovanni Pernice:-
Also received rape and murder threats and a bomb threat despite this vile abuse she says I’ve never regretted coming forward and today’s apology from the is a Vindication of my complaint it’s not just a vindication for me she says it’s a Vindication for the other people who have contacted me since I made my complaints to express their concerns about their experiences on Strictly uh she goes on to say that the BBC have actually invited her to meet with Senior Management and this is something that she’s going to be considering taking them up on but she says fundamentally .
It’s the apology that that does mean a great deal to her the and the statement they’ve put out we’re yet to hear from GI giovan panichi what his reaction what his response is but the BBC has said they always take bullying and harassment very seriously um while they have apologized to her there they’re pointing to her they’ve point to the measures that they’ve introduced since July and that are happening on the current series that they have those chaperon with all the dancers at all time they say they’ve got 15 training room observers in place for rehearsals who are completing daily logs they say in this statement uh which cover everything from breaks to warmups to rest periods to make sure that the Dan’s well-being is T Paramount really to this series.
Anticipated Reactions:-
Now got weekly welfare meetings with the show Senior Team so it’s it’s interesting it’s taken them a while to come to this conclusion and in a way it it comes out in favor of the dancer giovan Peniche and Amanda Abington as well that uh yeah that he’s uh hasn’t been found uh guilty if you of any of the the more serious things but they are in this statement and with this apology saying that they’re sorry and that they feel they let aand having done down by not taking her a bit more seriously and what of him I mean he is not on the current shows.
Italian version For from him but nothing at the moment but we know from the very beginning of when this inquiry started that he was wanting to talk publicly because he’ found it hugely frustrating that he was um having to sort of follow the the processes the the red tape of making sure that he wasn’t speaking until it was the appropriate time to do so so we are expecting him to to talk a little later on but yes this clears him certainly of anything aggressive or violent which was the the the claim that was being made uh by amander Abington and yeah mean look he’s been accepted onto a different version of strictly he was a former winner of uh this strictly and and a real fan favorite so think he will be wanting to give his uh comment certainly on on the the status of this inquiry and and now we do finally .