Laura Whitmore has spoken out about her dance partner in 2016 (Picture: PA)
Laura Whitmore is the latest celebrity to speak out against her former Strictly Come Dancing partner Giovanni Pernice as she shares a lengthy post revealing she’s given evidence to the BBC.
The star revealed on social media: ‘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.
‘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 initially raised concerns back in 2016.
‘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. My evidence is to support other people’s experience. It’s a shame it takes this for someone to be heard.
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‘I am not looking for anything just an acceptance that what happened to me in the rehearsal rooms during my time on BBC Strictly was wrong and that it won’t happen to anyone else again.’
Laura shared the update on her Instagram (Picture: Emily Manley)
‘Because I have not made an official complaint, and am providing evidence of my experience to support the investigation, not all the communication will be passed on to all parties involved. “
‘Misinformation is being put into the press so I want to set the record straight.
‘Victim blaming must stop or we will never get better. I’ve tried to speak up in the correct way. I know the BBC and all outlets continue to do their best to be better, but for that to happen we must speak up.’
The star was partnered with Giovanni Pernice (Picture: BBC/Jay Brooks/Matt Burlem)
This isn’t the first time the star has spoken out about not enjoying her time on the show.
Writing for Hot Press in 2018, the presenter explained: ‘I’m still not ready to talk in-depth about my experience on the show. I love dancing, I topped the leaderboard twice – but before it even began, I was thrown into the lion’s den and into the middle of someone’s break-up that had nothing to do with me. Once again, I was a “rumoured love interest”.
‘I was placed with a dance partner I was extremely uncomfortable with – and in the end I felt broken. I cried every day. And I really was broken, both mentally and physically, by the end.
‘To the outside world I tried to suck it up and smile, and I did that to the best of my ability – but it affected me deeply. My friends and family knew that I was struggling. And they were there for me. The media, however, saw me as blonde bait in a sequined dress.’
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