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.

Yeah, if true it doesn't sound like it was particularly constructive criticism, or if it was in terms of content, it was delivered far too aggressively to be taken as such.

Unless AA comes out and says what the issue was, we'll never know. What is clear to me is that she finds it very upsetting and doesn't want to go public. Her original complaint was around how the BBC dealt with what the issue was for her iirc.

From everything I've read that her and others have said I get the impression he's just quite explosive and shouty. When you're under a lot of pressure that will send your stress levels soaring and if it happens over and over again it could very well cause a stress injury of some kind. Although I may be wrong.

I get the impression we will find out though. Three people are pushing for something to happen and have said they won't just go away. I think there could be an interesting discussion around how stress responses vary enormously between individuals and maybe more people might come to realise that this kind of thing can break some of us in the same way as other behaviours that are currently taken more seriously. Although again I may be wrong. I think if there was any whiff of anything inappropriate sexually or physically an investigation would be underway by now.

IMO whatever the rights and wrongs of this specific incident, Strictly as a whole has got to accept that fantastic dancers are not necessarily brilliant teachers-or instant best friends/grief counsellors/marriage guidance etc etc etc!
Strictly is a huge money spinner for the Beeb, I think they need to give each celebrity some sort of independent support system for the duration of the proagramme, whether it is to help with social media bullying, problems with dance partners or just be a sounding board away from the intensity of the dance pairing.

Completely agree @trockodile & I'm surprised they don't do this already! Where is their duty of care?!

There's a new article in the DM claiming Faye Tozer had a similar experience. Also saying Amanda has never submitted any complaint which leaves the BBC wondering what they're supposed to be responding to. I'm guessing Amanda etc feel the behaviour was so much out in the open and known about to everyone that they shouldn't have to complain. But I would be very interested to actually hear what they're looking to have addressed.

I would think that Amanda complained verbally to producers, but doesn't realise that doesn't count as a formal complaint.

Yeah, possibly, although the Mirror is claiming she's hired a lawyer with a very fancy name to try to pursue some kind of action.

The Daily Mail and The Mirror both now have articles claiming Rachel Riley also says she had PTSD after doing Strictly. She went on to marry her partner which adds an interesting slant. She's not accusing him of abuse but seems to have developed trauma despite that and says that many people she's spoken to since doing the show have shared they had similar experiences. I think we need to start questioning whether society's general understanding of trauma and what causes it are solid.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13262881/Rachel-riley-strictly-come-dancing-ptsd-amanda-abbington-exit.html

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/rachel-riley-reveals-bbc-strictly-32493863

PTSD is getting over-diagnosed. Not every unpleasant or difficult experience is "traumatic". It's supposed to be for things like rape and war, not getting paid £75,000 to participate in a TV dance competition.

If I remember correctly Rachel Riley claims her PTSD is just from the pressure of being on one of the country's biggest shows.

Maybe PTSD was always underdiagnosed. There are just so many people saying the same thing now and attesting to the same experience that it's becoming very hard to keep dismissing them all. Trauma is very distinctive if you've suffered it. It's not easy to mistake it for something else and complex PTSD can be caused by things like bullying as someone on the other thread has just pointed out.

For the 282739047384millionth time nobody is claiming getting paid for a dance show is what caused the PTSD. Why do people keep saying this? As I said before, if I was beaten up in a bar would you say ‘how do you get PTSD just from going out for a few drinks?’

Thank you for also trying to fight the good fight but I think we’re also flogging a dead horse and have as much chance of educating one 😆

Thanks for the lecture, but that's not the case for Rachel Riley. Nothing happened to her on the show and she married her dance partner. Her "PTSD" comes form the pressures of being on a big TV show. Which she should accept comes with the privilege.

‘If you remember rightly’ according to your previous post. Plus that’s still not from being paid to dance, is it? It’s from pressure. Which you can’t always predict the effect of before you start.

Things seem to be gearing up again with formal complaints now in and this person he worked with in the past making an allegation (on Twitter/X).

Yes and he's stepped down. Watching with interest.

Still watching with interest! Wondering where all the Gio defenders are

They're around alright. The comments against Amanda on sm are depressing.

Death threats awful she said. Nobody deserves that.

hey @Ilikeadrink14 it's not the 1970's anymore. Thank fuck!

Jeez.

Females, girls, wimps. Thanks for the informed and considered contribution @Ilikeadrink14 😄

Jesus wept.

I was pestered in a similar way at work in the 70s. In those days, we ladies weren’t wimps and we tackled sexual abuse in the way it deserved. We had it out with the sex pest

Is that you Julia HB?!