Strictly's Graziano Di Prima's spokesperson confirms dancer KICKED partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals
Strictly Come Dancing's Graziano Di Prima has admitted to kicking his partner Zara McDermott
PA
Strictly Come Dancing's Graziano Di Prima has admitted to kicking his partner Zara McDermott during rehearsal, his spokesperson has said.
Di Prima, 30, has been axed from the show for his treatment of Love Island star McDermott, 27, who danced together in the 2023 series.
"There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right," Mark Borkowski said. "And he knows that.
"He knows he's made a mistake. He apologised at the time," he told the BBC.
Strictly Come Dancing's Graziano Di Prima has admitted to kicking his partner Zara McDermottPA It followed the controversy surrounding Giovanni Pernice, a fellow dancer who has also left the series as a result of separate incidents.
It was revealed Di Prima allegedly "kicked and spat on" McDermott during training for last year's show, and the Love Island star has spoken out to describe watching footage of their time training together as "incredibly distressing" to see.
Borkowski said Di Prima did not remember the incident very well, however did not deny that a kick was involved and said the dancer knows that he "crossed the line".
However, he did deny reports that he spat on McDermott.
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Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima were paired together in last year's Strictly Come DancingBBCThe dancer "does remember that he was pushing [McDermott] quite hard" in training on the day in question but "he doesn't recognise some of the issues surrounding it", regarding media reports.
"The descriptions of what is being commented online, and how he remembers it, are not aligned," he said.
Borkowski added that it was "absolute rubbish" that a single incident was typical of what went on during "weeks and weeks of training".
He also said that there is “lots of evidence” of Di Prima and McDermott “having a huge amount of fun together through this process".
McDermott has spoken out to describe watching footage of their time training together as 'incredibly distressing'
BBC
The BBC Strictly probe began with claims made agianst Giovanni PerniceGettyIn a statement released after his sacking, Di Prima explained he "deeply regrets the events that led" to his departure. The Italian is reportedly planning to take legal action against the broadcaster.
The dancer also claimed his "intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime".
The BBC will now put a member of the production staff in all future rehearsals as a chaperone following complaints about two of the professional dancers.
The broadcaster has said there will also be two new dedicated welfare producers on the show.
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