Giovanni Pernice supported by Kai Widdrington amid BBC Strictly saga as pair join forces in new show
Widdrington is supporting Pernice amid continuing accusations
ITV/Instagram
Giovanni Pernice's Strictly Come Dancing co-star Kai Widdrington seems to have displayed a show of support for the dancer, whose name has continued to make headlines following the controversy which began last year.
Pernice, 33, has come under fire for months after his 2023 celebrity dance partner, actress Amanda Abbington, has continued to make claims about his behaviour during her time on the show.
Abbington pulled out of the show in week five following reports of a feud between herself and the Italian dancer, and since then further claims have come out about the pair's rocky relationship.
The 52-year-old actress went on to claim she had been diagnosed with PTSD following her stint on the BBC show and requested footage from rehearsals as part of a legal battle.
Pernice has strongly denied the accusations of bullying made by Abbington as well as other former Strictly partners who have rushed to her defence.
While some seem to have distanced themselves from the drama, it seems co-star and former flatmate Kai Widdrington is standing by his pal.
Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Pernice shared a post from Ballando UK announcing the two would be starring in a show.
A countdown on the post revealed it would launch in just 21 days and would feature the two well-known dancers.
It read: "Givoanni Pernice and Kai Widdrington - London" along with the dates of the show.
Another post on the account, penned by Pernice, reads: "What do you think to our new logo? We spent a lot of time coming up with something that was relevant and had meaning to us, but that would also resonate with you all and have a sense of fun."
Pernice shared an announcement about he and Kai's project
It continued: "Huge thanks to @zedforzara for bringing our thoughts and scribbles to life - a very fun process!
"Let us know in the comments what you think! There’s also something very exciting coming up which will be shared with you all next week - stay tuned… Gio and Debs x."
Widdrington, 28, hasn't publicly shared the news but his upcoming project with Pernice would indicate he is supporting the choreographer during the media storm he has found himself at the centre of.
Reports claimed last month that Pernice had decided to quit Strictly due to the ongoing accusations, but both he and the BBC are yet to officially confirm this.
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Abbington made claims about Pernice following her stint on Strictly
BBC
It was reported this week that crisis management expert, Edward Coram James, has argued that the next step for the Italian dancer would be to release a defiant statement "to get ahead."
He told The Mirror: "He should acknowledge that his training can be intense, but that there is a key difference between intense and toxic - that he pursues perfection in himself, and so demands the same from those he works with. And, if that doesn't work for them, then they shouldn't work with him.
"Brilliance requires sacrifice… that sort of thing. So long as the allegations don't end up being too nefarious, I believe that the public will sympathise with this position and respect the integrity behind it."