The controversy surrounding the behaviour of professionals on the UK's 'Strictly Come Dancing' continues to escalate. TV presenter Laura Whitmore, a former contestant on the show, has come forward alleging that she was "gaslit" when she raised concerns about the inappropriate behaviour of her dance partner in 2016.
Whitmore, who was partnered with Italian professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, revealed in an interview with The Irish Times that she had tried to speak up about her experiences eight years ago but felt her concerns were either dismissed or minimised. She stated that she was "gaslit to make it seem normalised."
While Whitmore did not explicitly name Pernice due to an ongoing BBC investigation, she participated in the show in 2016 when Pernice was her partner. Pernice has previously denied all allegations of inappropriate behaviour made by another former partner, Amanda Abbington, whose complaints sparked the current wave of scrutiny on the show.
Whitmore expressed her disappointment that the issue has come to light in a "victim-shaming way," emphasising the difficulty of being the first to speak out. She also acknowledged the ongoing investigation into Pernice's conduct, expected to conclude soon.
Despite the ongoing controversy, the show is set to return soon, with Olympic swimmer Tom Dean already confirmed as a participant.
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