Graziano Di Prima has broken his silence after being dropped from Strictly Come Dancing, saying he 'deeply regrets' the events that led to his departure. The Italian professional dancer confirmed the news in a statement on Instagram, acknowledging that his 'intense passion and determination to win may have affected my training regime.'
Di Prima's exit follows that of fellow professional Giovanni Pernice, who was removed from the show amid allegations of misconduct towards former dance partner Amanda Abbington, which he denies. The BBC launched an internal investigation into the show after complaints about Pernice, and reports suggest the probe has now widened to look at broader issues.
In his statement, Di Prima said: 'While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it's only right for the sake of the show that I step away.' He added that he was 'saddened' he was not allowed to comment on online news stories, and said: 'There's more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time.'
The BBC confirmed Di Prima is no longer part of the professional dancer line-up for the upcoming series. A spokesperson said: 'While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established and robust duty of care procedures.'
Di Prima had been announced as part of the 2024 line-up in May, but his place has now been retracted. Reports suggest his departure is linked to allegations about his behaviour towards former dance partner Zara McDermott, with whom he was paired in the 2023 series.
