Zara McDermott hits back at Strictly's Graziano Di Prima as she argues behaviour was 'not singular incident'
Zara McDermott has hit back against claims Graziano Di Prima's behaviour was a 'singular incident' on Strictly Come Dancing
PA/BBC
Strictly Come Dancing's chaos continues after Zara McDermott today hit back at Graziano Di Prima's claims that his "abusive" behaviour was during a "singular incident".
It comes as Di Prima, 30, was axed from the BBC show after last year's footage of his training with McDermott, 27, was reviewed.
It was deemed Di Prima's approach was inappropriate after the review, which came about as a result of the claims made against Giovanni Pernice, found concerning examples of "physical and verbal behaviour".
The Italian dancer released a lengthy statement in which he expressed: "I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly."
Love Island star McDermott also broke her silence when she admitted she'd been reluctant to speak out before but that she had faced a "distressing" experience at the hands of Di Prima.
Further accusations have since been come to light, including one source who told The Sun that Di Prima had "spat at and kicked" McDermott.
Zara McDermott has hit back against claims Graziano Di Prima's behaviour was a 'singular incident' on Strictly Come Dancing
Getty
However, McDermott has now spoken out again in response to the choreographer stating the behaviour stemmed from one "singular incident".
Graziano admitted he had "crossed the line," and denied reports he had "spat" at McDermott but argued the other behaviours were a one-off incident.
However, McDermott's representatives have quashed the statement, with a spokesperson reportedly telling the BBC: "It's a matter of public record that the BBC deemed the conduct to be so severe that they removed him from the show immediately.
"Zara has already confirmed in a statement released on her social media earlier this week that the reported conduct was not a singular incident."
Graziano Di Prima has been axed from Strictly Come Dancing following a BBC probe
BBC
The hit-back comes after Di Prima's spokesperson claimed the dancer apologised to McDermott at the time for kicking her and denied spitting at her.
They stated while Di Prima "remembers pushing [Zara] quite hard," the reports "do not align" with the Strictly star's memory.
It's since been claimed Di Prima has been left "in bits" over the controversy, and that he is being monitored "24/7" after moving back to his native Sicily.
A source recently told The Sun: "This is a complete mess, and an unmitigated, utterly unprecedented disaster for the BBC.
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"Graziano has held up his hands and admits his behaviour was extreme and unacceptable.
"He knows there is no return and quite rightly. Yet why was no action taken sooner to nip this situation in the bud?"
The source went on to conclude: "Graziano is in bits. He is being monitored 24/7 by his wife Giada and mum who has moved in to take care of him."