Truth about 'struggling' Graziano di Prima's 'plans to sue BBC' revealed after axe
EXCLUSIVE: Reports surfaced about Graziano di Prima's plans to sue the BBC for not providing support to him during Strictly Come Dancing;
Graziano di Prima was axed from the show for "gross misconduct" following allegations that he had kicked, spat at and struck his 2023 celeb partner, former Love Islander Zara McDermott. Video footage of one incident is thought to have brought production staff to tears.
However, Express.co.uk can now reveal that any reports suggesting he was set to sue the BBC are false. It had been previously voiced that he'd hoped he could be given help to prevent frustrations and anxiety from spilling over into violence.
However, our source has revealed: "There is no intention of any legal action," and whilst it "has been a struggle" for Graziano this last week, he has been trying to face the scandal with "courage and fortitude".
Express.co.uk revealed exclusively last night how disgraced Graziano had fled back to his home island of Sicily, where he is believed to be receiving support from his mum, whom he calls his "best friend", and his wife of two years, Giada Lini. He grew up in poverty, suffering sickness regularly after being born prematurely, and often toiled on the land as a child.
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Now he has returned to that setting and is even digging trenches, as a friend of the former Strictly superstar revealed.
"He's literally going back to manual work and is digging trenches around olive trees," they shared to Express.co.uk.
"He's gone back to where he came from as a young boy of nine when he worked the land and his life was dealing with goats, olives and grapes."
Graziano has "accepted" his mistakes and is now trying to grow and learn from the experience.
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Strictly viewers had witnessed his friendship with Zara seemingly grow during Strictly last year, with Zara's boyfriend Sam Thompson describing Graziano as his "favourite".
However, the dancing partners were hiding a dark secret - the acts of physical and verbal aggression that had unfolded behind the scenes.
Zara released a statement on her Instagram page, admitting she had "wrestled with the fear of opening up".
"I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming - but after a lot of conversations with those I love, I've gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show."
