Amanda and Giovanni

[CombatLingerie]

Apologies if there is already a thread but I couldn’t find one. What on earth has gone on between Amanda Abbington and Giovanni Pernice during Strictly?AA is apparently taking legal action against the BBC claiming she has PTSD.

Thank you.

As for Amanda A and PTSD, I’m surprised that many are simply assuming her PTSD is from the difficulty and experience as a whole rather than from one specific instance.

This is completely hypothetical, but there have been instances in the professional dance world (ballet for example) where teachers have wrongly pushed their student’s body placement to the point of extreme injury. That could cause PTSD.

And of course if a dance teacher sexually assaulted a student, that could cause PTSD too.

So it’s possible - if not probable - that there could be a specific physical incident involved here.

I really don’t understand why people keep saying how can someone be traumatised by dancing? It’s so… basic… facile… to assume it was the ‘dancing.’ She was in what was her workplace at the time. Who knows what actually happened. But it’s like saying nothing traumatic can ever happen in a workplace, or a supermarket, or a street, or in your house. It’s just the location. She was in a dance studio presumably. A room. Something potentially happened in a room.

I would have thought that the most stressful part of strictly is the live dancing and prospect of live dancing to millions. So you'd want to get good and get lots of practice in and be so grateful for the dancing lessons the pro gives you.

it’s possible - if not probable - that there could be a specific physical incident involved here
Well yes I agree with that. I do remember a legs akimbo lift very early on in the competition - near Gio's face and I thought blimely - no way would I be ok doing that lift. Then I thought maybe you get no choice. But then I thought - I would still say NO to it. No way.

@TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening - yes you're right, it's not ok. But since there has been nothing actually reported about bullying and it's all speculation, you're essentially making up your own narrative now.

If it comes out that he has in fact been doing anything he shouldn't, or mistreated her in any way, then of course actions have consequences. But at the minute there is no evidence of anything and it's all speculation and accusation. I

Those of us with the diagnosis as a result of traumatic life changing events are entitled to be surprised that it could be triggered by appearing on Strictly though.

That is a bit like telling someone who got PTSD from horrific injuries in a car crash that “those of us with the diagnosis as a result of traumatic life changing events are entitled to be surprised that it could be triggered by a Sunday afternoon drive through the countryside”

Similar has happened with me.

I had terrible experiences, though not quite as serious as your own, and fought through them - but it weakens you and leaves you brittle. Then sometimes a comparatively minor situation (not attempting to belittle any such situation) brings everything which you've got safely locked in a box to the surface and you just shatter like glass.

It can be all the worse for being unexpected and "not as bad" as previous traumas (and I use that word with care) because you feel that you should be able to take it in your stride, but you can't.

Are you saying there is no such thing as rape? If something bad happen's it's never entirely one party's fault you do seem to be suggesting that.

I can tell you for a fact that AA knew Strictly would be hard, but that she did not know precisely what it would be like, because no-one can predict the future.

Yes she is and after having denied any problems between her and Gio would almost certainly have acted that things were fine. The acting was over the top though if it were acting and I am pretty sure Gio is not an actor.

They were hugging throughout the first show, giggling together, he tickled her at one stage. All of her other appearances were much the same.

On one of their appearances on It Takes Two he had his hand on her thigh. Even DH said "looks like they are getting on pretty well"

It’s not the dancing she is claiming to be traumatised by though is it. It was how she was treated in the training room and being shouted out, belittled and made to feel incompetent are potentially triggers for us all (not saying that is what happened just that it could).

the other thing is that there are some male pros (Johannes, Kai and Anton when he was) who tailor their training to their celebrity. There are others (Giovanni Brendan a little bit Gorka) who want to win and who train hard and expect the celebrity to fit in with them. Some fly (Faye/Lisa/Debbie) some hate the experience (Jerry/Lulu). Then you have Amanda who it doesn’t take an experience psychologist to see she had the potential to be mentally fragile. Why then give her to a pro whose teaching methods you know can be strict and difficult to handle.
Giovanni is unapologetically competitive and strict and demands a high level of response - always has. That is known. So why bring this partnership together surely there is some thought process to the matching

Majority of people know that the training is immense it appears dance training always is and more so for strictly. He's managed with plenty other contestants before with no complaints,or has there and we just didn't know about it 🤔 I'm guessing Giovanni maybe really hard to work with if you don't click with him, ( I assumed the Ritchie situation was down to maybe Gio not wanting to dance with another man),other possibility maybe Amanda fancied him and he didn't reciprocate, plenty people who have been spurned and got their own back , ( just a thought lol )

My speculation upthread - pure speculation - is that those pushing the TQ+ agenda at the BBC would probably like to punish AA for knowing what a woman is, and what better way than trying to influence the decision as to who to pair her with in the direction of someone who will bully her?

Obviously any drama is a win win because it punishes AA for her beliefs and gets more publicity for the show.

Get help @AnonnyMouseDave - this line of thinking is insane.

But no-one could have predicted what has happened. She lived with MF for a decade so she must be used to perfectionist, high-achieving men. She danced so well, Gio seemed delighted with her. If it was a plot it was a rubbish one.

I kind of hope that if the footage shows Gio has mistreated her, that it also shows she mistreated him. I simply cannot imagine a one sided thing. I am sure she is perfectly able to stand up for herself and give as good as she gets. Unfortunately for Gio he is not the most popular pro. I don't for one minute think she's perfect either.

May I suggest that the only insane people here are the one's who believe it is absoutely certain that no trans activists at the BBC were willing and able to try to make AA's life worse - even though she is a woman they believed is so bigoted that it would be unsafe to trans people to have her on the show.

She's getting absolutely savaged in comments under the very many articles about this. I don't think for a second this was leaked by her.

That makes no sense.

I think it’s awful people are forming opinions and taking sides based on no evidence at all.

We have no idea what her concern is. We have no idea what happened and who was involved.

No idea if there was an incident, an environment or a situation that caused problems.

All we know is that AA had a tough time and is suing the Beeb for failing to provide duty of care.

That’s not enough to to even speculate let alone com to conclusions.
Just trashing people’s reputation with no justification whatsoever.

It makes perfect sense, @Willyoujustbequiet Read it again.

Yep. Still makes no sense. You are comparing apples and oranges and pretending they are the same.

You’re assuming ’appearing on strictly’ is a whirlwind of make up, sequins, fake tan and learning a few dance moves.

You’re ignoring that it is a workplace like any other, containing people, like any people, and offers lots of opportunities for life altering events and experiences.

It’s not immune to all the dangers of every other situation because it’s strictly.

If only we could insulate ourselves against traumatic experiences by avoiding some places and situations.

This is typical “showbiz” behaviour - especially in front of cameras and the public. Smile darling, smile.

Targeted bullying can occur to ANYONE regardless of how "likeable/unlikeable", or "tough", or "extroverted" or "streetwise" they are.

The experience is isolating and often the perpetrators know enough to not do it in public, or not to target people with enough "backing".

Or to go for someone who is already "on the edge" a bit. If bullies targeted everyone in a group, they know they'd be rounded on - so they make allies with some people so they can pick on others.

(if I was AA's close friend a few years ago I'd have maybe guided her to keep more private with her vulnerabilities).

Many trauma victims freeze and can't react quickly. "Coming across as sassy in interviews" doesn't protect you.