Shirley Ballas vows to stand by Giovanni Pernice 'forever' amid Strictly Come Dancing probe
Shirley Ballas has again voiced her support for Giovanni Pernice, who is currently being investigated by the BBC over his behaviour while appearing on Strictly Come Dancing.
The Italian professional dancer first joined the BBC One dance competition in 2015 and quickly became a firm fan-favourite.
Last month it was announced that he would not be returning for the new series in September following accusations of “threatening and abusive” behaviour towards his celebrity dance partners.
Pernice has strongly denied all allegations against him, describing them as “simply false”.Someone who has backed him throughout is Strictly head judge Ballas, 57.
Despite reports that BBC bosses have banned the cast from discussing the “bullying row”, both she and fellow judge Anton Du Beke showed their solidarity with the embattled star by teaching at his Ballando dance workshop in London on Sunday.
According to the MailOnline, Ballas told dancers that it was an “honour and a privilege” to be there for Pernice, explaining: “I’ve known him for 10 years and we’re good friends”.
She then vowed: “I will be one person who will be by his side forever. What you see is what you get with him.”
It comes after Ballas spoke out in defence of Pernice last month, claiming “the truth will come out”.
Ballas 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,” she told the Mirror.
