Amanda Abbington and Strictly.

This looks more complicated than it seemed at first in terms of why Amanda decided to leave the show. I would say that Giovanni is known to be very competitive and I assume that the organisers of the show thought they were similarly anxious to win. The problem is that there are plenty of people who wasn't the show to fail, as well as those who want it to succeed.

I posted this on another thread

The stupid cow is apparently Rose who posted it on her socials then deleted it.

She has also spoken about bullying in childhood, suicidal ideation and the trauma around her fiancé’s illness. So it wouldn’t be too much of a leap that something happened during her time on Strictly that was cumulative or triggered a recurrence of previous illness. So it could be a duty of care issue around a reality TV show - how many times does that have to happen before it’s taken more seriously? Her pro dance partner was known to be extremely demanding as noted by previous partners so it could well be that the rehearsal room was not the most supportive of environments before taking into account any potential incident(s) by person or persons unknown. I’ve no idea how many people are at rehearsals apart from the pro and the celeb - presumably camera and sound technician, are there directors or producers or runners present from the BBC? I’ve also no idea if there are other dance coaches, fitness coaches, physios or other medical folk in hand. Musicians and costume designers floating in and out?

All we know is that something appears to have happened that distressed Amanda to the point she left the show. I hope she gets to the bottom of it and if anyone needs holding to account, it is done with transparency and things are fixed so it can’t happen to anyone rise.

Obviously we have no idea. But in general, when you go through something upsetting or traumatic it can often take a while to understand what actually happened or what you might want to do about it, once you do. I imagine when you add in a situation under a national spotlight with intense public interest it might only make that more complex.

Oh dear, I didn't post the link to encourage speculation or to make out this was all a bit over the top.

It was more out of concern.

I cant imagine someone in the public eye would take this step unless it was something serious. Knowing that the media both newspapers and social media would be all over it.

Otherwise I am sure everyone, including AA herself, would be of the opinion just walk away from it as something that didn't work out.

I believe her.

This was the reality show case I was thinking of. But I had to scroll down 2 pages of google to find it because there have been so many others.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/jul/15/lucy-spraggan-the-real-reason-i-dropped-out-of-the-x-factor

So while what happened on Strictly in this particular instance is not our business and not something to speculate on, what is our - everyone's - business is if TV programmes are still treating women like shit (or allowing/enabling/failiing to prevent individuals doing so).

Despite case after case after case that should make them address their failings.

My point is that it could be any number of things, related to any number of people. So it's ridiculous to try and guess.

And I agree - none of our business.

Bloody hell. That's a lot of speculation!!

Maybe if it's anyone's actual business, she will let them know?

I forget the name of the reality show one but pretty sure it wasn't Duffy. Horrible case. They'd put her in a hotel - away from the other contestants I think - and she was assaulted in her room (possibly by a member of the hotel staff?).

Wasn't the singer Duffy abducted? Was she the reality show one?

Indeed.

There are lots of people in the rehearsals - not just Gio but other dancers, choreographers, technical crew, production staff, plus the possibility of unauthorised people getting in. It takes very little imagination to come up with all sorts of things one of them could have done, or should have done and didn't.

Maybe she was physically or sexually assaulted. Many people have jumped to that because it's a common experience for women.

Or maybe there was an organised hate campaign or vote rigging campaign and someone in the rehearsal room let slip they'd been involved.

Or maybe there was a warning about a stalker, insufficient security measures were put in place and the stalker got in.

Or maybe the production company wanted footage of them dancing on one of those window cleaner hoists, she slipped and almost fell 30 storeys.

Maybe a lighting rig exploded.

Endless possibilities.

Or maybe it was 'only' workplace bullying. And, if so, that's unacceptable behaviour too.

I mean, I’m always shocked how intimate they get- I simply couldn’t do it. If someone was unsympathetically rushing me into being grabbed, lifted, stripped backstage for costume changes…

If I was having a bad day and someone pushed it, it could escalate.

Klaxon- total speculation!! Just an example of the kind of thing that I don’t think TV is particularly respectful of.

Something completely random could have happened that we know nothing about.

Totally speculative example- a crime was committed that BBC could/should have protected her from. I’m remembering a singer who disappeared from a reality tv show and years later revealed she’d been assaulted by someone unconnected to the show.

There could have been a H&S incident.
All sorts.

I believe her too. Giovanni must have had something to do with her reason for leaving if she didn't mention him in her post.

I believe her.

Maybe it wasn't Giovanni, but something must have happened that we didn't see. I believe her.

You have no idea what happened! What happened to "when women speak, believe them"!?
Poor Amanda, it was clear that something went wrong with her relationship with Giovanni considering she didn't mention him when thanking everyone else on the show.

If she's been diagnosed with PTSD as alleged, then it won't be just from dance rehearsals, will it. It will be from something specific that happened. None of this is public anyway atm so no one can actually say what happened.

PTSD plus taking legal advice and asking for videos seems more as if something specific happened, not just a clash of attitudes to training.

Oh come on. PTSD from a dancing teacher. She needs to get a big bloody grip.

Gosh, she's been diagnosed with PTSD following her time on the show. That sounds really bad.

More media gossip (but if true sounds really bad)

Amanda Abbington ‘requests Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal footage with Giovanni Pernice’ amid legal advice Amanda Abbington ‘requests Strictly Come Dancing rehearsal footage with Giovanni Pernice’ amid legal advice (yahoo.com)

Goodness me! Even the Telegraph wants to comment ....

How Giovanni Pernice’s addiction to winning Strictly came at a cost (yahoo.com)

Good on her to withdraw if that's what she needed to do. We talk so much about mental health - it's great to see someone actually show what it looks like to prioritise it.

Her time on Strictly showed how brilliant a dancer she is - I hope she can see that when she looks back on it.

Amanda has yet to reference her dance partner, Giovanni Pernice, but the pro did share a sweet post in tribute to their time on the show. Sharing a photo of them backstage, he wrote: "Amanda... I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love."
Amanda Abbington's partner breaks silence on her Strictly Come Dancing exit (yahoo.com)