Graziano Di Prima's wife has reacted to claims from Zara McDermott.
The former Love Island star revealed she was too "scared" to speak out about alleged inappropriate behaviour and abuse from the professional dancer during training sessions while shooting Strictly Come Dancing.
Graziano married wife Giada Lini back in 2022 after seven years of dating, tying the knot in a picturesque ceremony in Sicily. She's seemingly standing firmly by her husband's side amid his ongoing Strictly scandal, now unfollowing Zara on Instagram after her statement.
Di Prima's former co-star said she had been "wrestling with the fear of opening up" in her poignant post. Stating the Strictly call was a "dream come true" having wanted to be on the show since she was a "little girl", she explained: "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."
"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. But after a lot of conversations 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." Graziano broke his silence on Saturday (July 13), expressing regret over his sudden exit from Strictly.
Following the announcement of his departure that made national headlines, Graziano issued a heartfelt statement on Instagram in which he addressed his fans and stated: "While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it's only right for the sake of the show that I step away."
Continuing, he said, "I am saddened that I wasn't allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation. There's more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future."
In a statement, the BBC confirmed: "We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established and robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate."
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