BBC Apologizes to ‘Sherlock’ Actor Over ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Bullying Allegations, Upholds Some Complaints

As a seasoned movie buff with decades of watching BBC shows under my belt, I must say that the apology to Amanda Abbington is long overdue. The bullying and harassment allegations on “Strictly Come Dancing” have been a sore subject for far too long. It’s disheartening to see such a beloved show tarnished by these reports.

The BBC has offered an apology to Amanda Abbington, the actress from “Sherlock”, following their validation of certain complaints she made about bullying incidents on the dancing competition show “Strictly Come Dancing”.

To clarify,” the British version of “Dancing with the Stars,” known as “Strictly Come Dancing,” is one of the broadcaster’s most well-liked and enduring formats. However, it has been embroiled in controversy due to allegations by former contestants, such as Abbington, that they experienced bullying and harassment during their time on the show.

Following Abbington’s particular accusations against her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, the BBC announced they would conduct an investigation. Now, the organization has verified that they have acknowledged some, but not all, of the complaints lodged.

We’d like to express our apologies to Amanda Abbington and our gratitude for her bravery in participating, it wasn’t an easy decision she made.” (This sentence conveys the same meaning as the original but in a more casual and conversational tone.)

Previously this past summer, Abbington admitted that she was still dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) following her four-week stint on the program, which ultimately led to her withdrawal due to a mix of health issues and harassment. At that point, Pernice, who has since been removed from the show, refuted these claims.

She expressed that the show wasn’t as she had anticipated,” she stated about her experience, mentioning further that once she informed the producers about Pernice’s actions, they arranged cameras in the rehearsal room to scrutinize the recordings. At that point, Abbington also didn’t dismiss the possibility of taking legal action against the BBC.

Previous competitor and social media influencer, Zara McDermott, disclosed another instance of last year’s rehearsals where her dance partner, Graziano Di Prima, allegedly kicked her. Since then, he was terminated from his position.

EbMaster has reached out to Giovanni Pernice’s reps for comment.

Read the BBC’s full statement below:

After conducting an extensive examination, the BBC has wrapped up its investigation into Amanda Abbington’s complaints against Giovanni Pernice regarding bullying and harassment. We treat such accusations with utmost importance, which is why this review required careful consideration given its intricate details and our commitment to a thorough and strong investigative procedure.

On ‘Strictly Come Dancing,’ we hold a strong standard because it’s a program suitable for families. Despite the competition being challenging, tough, and demanding, our aim is for it to be an enjoyable and transformative experience. It’s unfortunate when this hasn’t been the case for every participant who has graced our stage.

In our review of the complaints, we found some valid and addressed them accordingly, but unfortunately, not every complaint was upheld. We’d like to extend our sincere apologies to Amanda Abbington for any inconvenience she may have experienced, and express our gratitude for her cooperation and willingness to participate in this process. We understand that taking such a step is not an easy task.

Initially, our team made efforts to rectify the problems as they perceived them, but unfortunately, those actions fell short. That’s why reinforcing our current procedures with additional safeguards becomes crucial.

The BBC gathered insights from several people to reach its conclusions. We’d like to express our gratitude for their cooperation.

The BBC has already made significant efforts to improve the welfare of all participants in the show, and details of these measures can be found accompanying this announcement.

Duty of Care Measures:

The BBC and BBC Studios place great importance on ensuring the well-being of all who participate in Strictly. Our goal is to make this experience enjoyable for everyone involved.

I’m always striving to ensure that our care and assistance systems on “Strictly” are consistently improved, with updates made annually.

This year’s show has seen the implementation of fresh regulations for training and practice sessions, effective from July. These modifications involve:

Furthermore, we incorporated fifteen individuals as rehearsal observers in our training rooms. Each day, they fill out logs detailing activities such as breaks, warm-ups, and rest intervals.

Right from the onset, I’ve been part of a regular weekly gathering involving our show’s leadership, the BBC’s editorial policy consultant, and the BBC’s Duty of Care Executive. During these sessions, we scrutinize the daily training records to ensure everyone’s well-being is maintained throughout the series.

Before each series, every well-known celebrity and professional dancer receives a preliminary mental health assessment. They fill out ‘wellness surveys’ in collaboration with the production team and discuss their desired show experience as well as the training expectations they have for themselves and the producers.

All individuals involved in “Strictly,” whether on-screen or off, have participated in workshops focused on the show’s cultural ethos and appropriate conduct.

After following established procedures, there’s a structured farewell conversation for everyone who departs from the show. This discussion will be recorded and kept in our files.

These latest actions are an extension of established practices and protocols within the program, and we’ll continually assess if additional steps are necessary.

2024-09-30 16:20

BBC Apologizes to ‘Sherlock’ Actor Over ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ Bullying Allegations, Upholds Some Complaints

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