Laura Whitmore alleges ‘inappropriate behaviour’ during her time on Strictly Come Dancing | Ents & Arts News
TV presenter Laura Whitmore has said she was subjected to “inappropriate behaviour” during her time on Strictly Come Dancing.
The former Love Island host, 39, joins Amanda Abbington and Zara McDermott among others in criticising the culture of the BBC show.
Whitmore was partnered with Giovanni Pernice in 2016 and was seventh in her series to be eliminated.
Abbington was partnered with Pernice last year and has alleged he subjected her to “threatening and abusive” behaviour before she quit for “personal reasons”.
Pernice, 33, denies the allegations and says he is cooperating with a BBC review.
Giovanni Pernice denies the claims about him. Pic: BBC/Ray Burmiston
Whitmore said she “initially raised concerns back in 2016” in a post on Instagram.
“I was trying not to comment on recent press speculation until the BBC review is complete but feel there is a lot of misinformation in the press and I want to help and show support by setting the record straight,” she said.
“I was asked to speak to the BBC along with six people that I know of (who deserve anonymity as they don’t want to be dragged through the press), about inappropriate behaviour they experienced similar to mine with the same individual.
“I thought my experience was specific to me but I’ve since learned I was wrong. The aim of this is to show a pattern of behaviour that I believe needs to stop.”
She added that sharing her experiences on the show, during which she suffered an ankle injury, is intended to “support other people’s evidence”.
Whitmore said she has “not made an official complaint” and she is “not looking for anything just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms… was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again”.
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BBC ‘strengthening support’
The BBC has said it is taking measures to “strengthen welfare and support” on Strictly, including allowing contestants a chaperone at all times during training.
A previous statement from the corporation said: “Anyone involved in a complaint has a right to confidentiality and fair process and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further on individuals.
“However, when issues are raised with us we always take them extremely seriously and have appropriate processes in place to manage this.
“Our processes on Strictly Come Dancing are updated every year, they are kept under constant review, and last week we announced additional steps to further strengthen welfare and support on the show.”
BBC director-general Tim Davie added: “Of course, alongside the fun and entertainment there will be a degree of competitiveness, hard work and a will to do well.
“That’s part of what makes this show. But there are limits and the line should never be crossed. We will never tolerate unacceptable behaviour of any kind.”
The BBC has also confirmed Pernice will not return to the show for the next series later this year.
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‘Toxic and unsafe’ environment
Sherlock star Abbington made an official complaint a month after she left the show, claiming she felt “bullied” and the environment was “toxic and unsafe”.
Separately, professional dancer Graziano Di Prima left the show after allegations about his treatment of Love Island star Zara McDermott.
Sherlock star Amanda Abbington has complained about Pernice. Pic: BBC/Guy Levy
Zara McDermott has made allegations against Graziano Di Prima, who won’t return to the show. Pic: PA
Paralympian Will Bayley said he suffered a serious injury while performing a jump during rehearsals in 2019, and claimed he was shown “no duty of care”.
In a previous post on Instagram, Pernice said about the allegations against him: “Every week, there are totally untrue stories about me in the media.
“As you know, I have always rejected any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour. The latest accusations are simply false.”
Neither the BBC nor Pernice has commented specifically on Whitmore’s allegations.