Strictly star Shirley Ballas has backed under-fire Giovanni Pernice, saying: “The truth will come out.”
The judge said that she had never witnessed anything untoward by the dancer and said he will be “missed” in the next run of the BBC show. And she revealed that she had invited him to a party this weekend, along with fellow judge Anton Du Beke.
Speaking last night at Chorleywood Memorial Hall, Herts, promoting her new book Murder on the Dancefloor, 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.”
Shirley said she had spoken to the dancer only that day - and praised him for being kind to her mum when she was diagnosed with cancer. She added: “I just spoke to Giovanni 30 minutes before coming here and I am going to one of his Ballando classes to teach the jive (with Anton).
"He is coming to my party with Anton on Sunday. You know, I can only talk from my own perspective. I have known Giovanni for 10 years. My mother loves him. It does not matter when he is on tour, or where he is or what he is doing, he will make his way across and he will say ‘Lovely to see you Shirley. Lovely to see your mum.’
“I have got so many beautiful pictures, of the times that he spent, particularly when my mum was poorly, and he reached out. So he has always been to me, and I will make that clear, to me... a perfect gentleman.” Giovanni this week dismissed allegations about his behaviour while working on Strictly as “simply false”.
The Italian dancer, 33, said he is "cooperating fully" with an ongoing BBC investigation and is looking forward to "clearing my name". The broadcaster last week confirmed he will not return for the new series, on which he has performed for nine years.
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Pernice has previously rejected allegations he displayed “abusive or threatening” behaviour” following complaints about his conduct. "I am co-operating fully with the ongoing BBC investigation, which will determine the truth. As requested, I have stayed silent, but I am looking forward to the conclusion of the investigation and ultimately clearing my name and establishing the truth.
"I am so happy to be back on tour. Thank you all for your continued support - your messages and love mean so very much to me. I will hopefully see many of you very soon and I look forward to clearing my name.”
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