Zara McDermott breaks silence on Graziano Di Prima BBC Strictly axe amid 'kicked and hit' complaints
BBC Strictly: Zara McDermott has issued a statement following Graziano Di Prima's axe
BBC
Former Love Island star and documentary maker Zara McDermott has released a statement regarding Graziano Di Prima's sacking from Strictly Come Dancing.
The two were paired together for the 2023 series before eventually being voted off by the public but while they seemed friendly on-screen, it's now been claimed things were very different off-camera.
Di Prima, who is reported to now need "monitoring 24/7" after the axe, allegedly "kicked and hit" McDermott in rehearsals, prompting complaints to BBC bosses.
His exit comes amid another scandal engulfing the series after Amanda Abbington quit the show early following her time working with Giovanni Pernice.
Di Prima spoke out earlier this week to claim "intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime" and admitted he "deeply regrets the events that led" to his departure - a statement that prompted support from some members of the BBC Strictly cast.
Now, McDermott has taken to Instagram with a lengthy statement that reads in full: "I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports.
BBC Strictly: Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima competed in the 2023 series
BBC
"Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I dreamt of being on since I was a little girl. When I was invited to be a contestant on the show it really was a childhood dream come true.
"I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly was going to be and I dedicated everything to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took."
McDermott went on to say: "So much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamt of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with.
"However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch."
Zara McDermott's statement in full on her BBC Strictly saga
The former Islander admitted in the statement why she had reservations about speaking out against Di Prima during her time on the show.
"I have 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," she said. "But after a lot of conversation 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.
"The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up, especially in a world where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I've seen through working with countless women on my documentaries.
"I would like to thank the BBC & BBC Studios for their swift action and incredibly high level of support, as well as everyone who has reached out to me - it truly means a lot.
"Love, always. Zara," the former Strictly star signed off.
The BBC has declined to comment on the saga, citing that it never comments on "individual cases".
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However, a BBC spokesperson confirmed that Di Prima was "no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series".
They also added: "While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established a robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate."
The details of the misconduct claims are yet to be confirmed by the BBC, McDermott, or Di Prima but sources have claimed it went as far as the Italian dancer "spitting" on his partner.
However, Di Prima is reportedly angry with the outcome of the saga with a source alleging to The Sun he feels he didn't "receive proper support" and questioned "why was no action taken sooner to nip this situation in the bud".