Why Strictly dancer Graziano Di Prima is suing the BBC?
Following news that Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima is suing the broadcaster, the BBC has vowed to fight back.
The 30-year-old Sicilian dancer was fired from the competition last week due to allegations that, during the previous season, he had verbally and physically mistreated his famous partner Zara McDermott.
Di Prima feels that after receiving warnings from superiors on his treatment of Ms. McDermott, 27, a former Love Island star, he ought to have been «supported and helped» in his behavior.
«Why would any workplace, particularly one paid for by the public, offer support to someone who acted in an undoubtedly abhorrent manner?» a BBC insider asked the Mail.
Di Prima claims he was not given any guidance on how to handle the strain of competing in the show. He allegedly «kicked and hit» Ms. McDermott.
Yesterday, a friend of the professional dancer stated: «There are concerns regarding the BBC’s protocols and their behind-the-scenes operations.»
According to Di Prima, professionals are under a lot of pressure to perform well enough to please the audience—that is, to receive nines or tens.
This article has disclosed that, although Strictly production personnel voiced concerns last year regarding Di Prima’s behavior, supervisors simply took the necessary steps to issue him with a series of discreet warnings.
The gang anticipated that he would be fired right away. They are reportedly incensed that their objections went unanswered, allowing the mistreatment of Ms. McDermott to go on. Di Prima was even contracted to appear in the forthcoming Strictly in 2024.
According to a show insider, there were numerous instances of verbal and physical abuse. Everything about it was terrible, but it was more physical than verbal.
Nine months after they first filed a complaint, Di Prima wasn’t fired until employees saw a video that purportedly showed him beating Ms. McDermott repeatedly.
They brought it to the attention of BBC HR officials looking into Giovanni Pernice, a dancer, in response to Amanda Abbington, his 2023 partner, claiming he had harassed her during training.
Pernice left the show last month and disputes the accusations.
«I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly,» a «devastated» Di Prima posted on Instagram over the weekend in response to his dismissal from the show.
My great drive and will to succeed may have had an impact on my training schedule. In an attempt to escape the crisis as unharmed as possible, the Mail disclosed yesterday that he has engaged a publicist and a lawyer.
Currently a BBC documentary presenter, Ms. McDermott is alleged to have been «too scared» to file a complaint at the time, but she is currently cooperating with investigators.
