Strictly's Giovanni Pernice breaks silence on social media in defiant post after show exit

Giovanni Pernice has finally broken his silence after failing to be mentioned in the Strictly Come Dancing 2024 lineup, following a nine-year stint, vowing to continue dancing.

The 33-year-old professional dancer has been embroiled in controversy for months after his latest appearance on the BBC dance show due to allegations about his behaviour, which he has denied. He was partnered with actress Amanda Abbington, who left the show prematurely and later claimed she suffered from PTSD.

The BBC reportedly initiated an internal investigation after receiving complaints from several other stars who had worked with him on the show. Express.co.uk previously contacted Giovanni's representatives and the BBC for comment.

The cast for the upcoming series of Strictly has been announced, and Giovanni's name was noticeably absent from the list of returning professional dancers. Responding to the news of his abrupt departure from the show, Giovanni shared a video on his Instagram Stories showing him back in dance training in view of his 1.1 million followers.

In the clip, Giovanni can be seen leading a series of group dance sessions. He simply added three heart emojis to the post, seemingly defiantly signalling to fans that he is not abandoning his love for dance.

The dancer will also return to the stage tomorrow night alongside friend and Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke.

Giovanni's recent dance clip has set social media abuzz after being shared on Ballando's official account, with fans gushing over his return to the dance floor.

One enthusiast exclaimed: "How lucky are we to be taught by the best," prompting a gleeful response from Ballando: "Very!" Another chimed in: "This video in itself speaks volumes... The biggest and best dance fam." (sic)

A third fan eagerly remarked: "Can't wait. Gio is the best teacher."

Giovanni is not just a star attraction; he's also part of Ballando's nationwide dance workshops, which include appearances by Strictly Come Dancing judges.

The next workshop featuring Giovanni, alongside Anton and Shirley Ballas, is highly anticipated in London at the end of the month.

The show's beloved professionals, such as Dianne Buswell, Nadiya Bychkova, Graziano Di Prima, Amy Dowden, Karen Hauer, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, Nikita Kuzmin, Gorka Marquez, Luba Mushtuk, Jowita Przystal, Johannes Radebe, Kai Widdrington, Nancy Xu, Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Michelle Tsiakkas, and Vito Coppola, are all confirmed to return.

Speculation about Giovanni's future on Strictly was rife after an internal memo reportedly leaked without his name on this year's list of professional dancers. Since joining Strictly in 2015 and reaching the final with Coronation Street's Georgia May Foote, Giovanni has become a household name.

His crowning moment came when he won the Strictly glitterball trophy with EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis, the show's first deaf champion.

He previously dismissed claims of "abusive or threatening behaviour" and expressed his eagerness to "clear my name". A legal firm representing the complainants stated that the broadcaster is in the process of "evidence gathering", although the BBC has not confirmed the commencement of any investigation.

Following the announcement of his departure from Strictly, a wave of support for Giovanni has come from professional dancers and celebrities alike. Former show professional Kristina Rihanoff voiced her support for the star, praising him as one of the show's top dancers and choreographers.

This week, both Giovanni and Anton prepare to kickstart their joint tour, demonstrating Strictly judge Anton's continuous support for the dancer. As evidenced by Anton's recent activity on social media a 'like' on an Instagram post from Together's official page last week it seems they've no intention of calling off the tour and remain in good camaraderie with each other.

The post, featuring a picture of the two BBC personalities arm in arm, was captioned: "6 more days until Opening! ! ! The countdown begins! ! ! TOGETHER TOUR 2024." (sic)

Giovanni previously issued a heartfelt denial to his supporters, stating: "To my dear fans, I reject any suggestion of abusive or threatening behaviour, and I look forward to clearing my name. Those who have followed my journey on Strictly Come Dancing over the last decade will know that I am passionate and competitive.

"No-one is more ambitious for my dance partners than me. I have always striven to help them be the very best dancers they can be. This has always come from a place of love and wanting to win - for me and my dance partners. Thank you all once again for your continued love and support!"

Allegations continue to mount against Giovanni as it's reported that three female celebrities are taking legal steps, with a male celebrity recently joining their ranks, reportedly seeking counsel from the same legal team.