Giovanni Pernice has spoken out about his partnership with Amanda Abbington on Strictly Come Dancing, revealing that both he and Amanda requested to be paired together after a positive initial meeting. However, tensions arose early in their training when Amanda reportedly expressed dissatisfaction in a group chat, leading Giovanni to feel uncomfortable and take precautionary measures by filming their sessions. This situation escalated into a bullying probe after Amanda made serious allegations against Giovanni, including claims of abusive behavior that led her to leave the show early due to health concerns. The BBC's investigation upheld six of Amanda's 17 complaints, and Giovanni has since denied the abuse claims, stating that their relationship involved mutual banter. He emphasized that their interactions were misinterpreted and that he was concerned about Amanda's health during their last rehearsal together. The fallout from this controversy ultimately ended Giovanni's long-standing career on the show.