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Giovani refers to Amanda Abingdon as mad

83 replies

Blackcats7 · 21/07/2024 21:47

The bbc has reported that on stage in Manchester today Giovani said "let's see what this mad woman says next" and then promised to be back to cheers from his audience.
He did not actually say Amanda's name but it is clear who he meant.
If her accusations are proven (which seems likely given other women coming forward) then presumably he has just opened himself up to a claim for defamation.

OP posts:
TigathaChristie · 22/07/2024 16:44

Bloody hell - that article about Will Bayley is really shocking.

The fact that they forced someone with a disability to jump when he said he wasn't able to is criminal.

And then they didn't even look after him properly when he was injured.

I think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg tbh and am shocked and saddened by all these stories.

Strictly used to be a happy escape from some of the awful realities of recent years.

Whatever happens now the bubble has been well and truly burst and I will never view it in the same way.

I love Alijaz and was delighted to hear about his return but doubt that even he can save them now.

All my sympathy goes to those contestants who have suffered at the hands of what was supposed to be a joyful experience.

Simonjt · 22/07/2024 16:47

TigathaChristie · 22/07/2024 16:44

Bloody hell - that article about Will Bayley is really shocking.

The fact that they forced someone with a disability to jump when he said he wasn't able to is criminal.

And then they didn't even look after him properly when he was injured.

I think we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg tbh and am shocked and saddened by all these stories.

Strictly used to be a happy escape from some of the awful realities of recent years.

Whatever happens now the bubble has been well and truly burst and I will never view it in the same way.

I love Alijaz and was delighted to hear about his return but doubt that even he can save them now.

All my sympathy goes to those contestants who have suffered at the hands of what was supposed to be a joyful experience.

Edited

My husband has the same condition as Will, things like jumping are a huge no no as you don’t have the correct muscles, ligaments and tendons to land safely. So you don’t just risk your ankles, but knees and hips too. A lot of people with arthrogryposis rely on their hips more to walk, so they have to be so so careful to look after their legs to avoid further mobility issues in old age.

ClarrieMia · 22/07/2024 16:47

ArcaneWireless · 22/07/2024 16:39

I think that she was brave to quit and brave to speak up.

She struck me as someone who was focussed and wanted to do well. I enjoyed her dances and thought she may have been a contender for the final. It came as a bit of a surprise when she walked away.

Not a surprise now of course.

Many said on here she should have expected it to be hard work/super intense.

I expect she did.

No-one expects abusive though.

Zara seems like such a gentle soul and it was also upsetting to read what happened there.

Anton’s comments were a disgrace.

It should be hard work but magical, a bucket list/dream, a fabulous joyful experience.

I’m glad they are taking reports of negative experiences seriously.

I would be sorry if it goes - but I doubt that will happen. It has to change though - back to how it was. No fakeness, no concentrating on issues/nans, no sob stories or plugging, no professional dancers.

Just dancing.

Edited

Zara seems like such a gentle soul and it was also upsetting to read what happened there.

Quite determined and ambitious I think. Love Island can't be easy…

IsEveryUserNameBloodyTaken · 22/07/2024 16:50

PerkyMintDeer · 22/07/2024 09:53

I feel like a lot of the touring shows are being used as opportunities for the male celebs to "speak out" when they should just shut up and deal with it professionally (i.e lawyers).

Re:Anton...he made my Ballroom dance teacher cry! Either ITV or the BBC had contacted the dance school I attended to ask if there was anyone there who could do a short filmed dance segment with Anton (and Ian Waite), spoke about height etc. She put herself forward and another dance teacher. She'd had a very successful career and was well respected in the dance world, she was the same age as Anton and from being children they'd competed against each other (she said she used to win more!).

She was expecting him to recognise her, be pleasant etc. But what actually happened was that he took one look at her, and her younger, slimmer, prettier, taller colleague and he said "trust me to end up with the short, fat, ugly one" then refused to look her in the eye or talk to her for the rest of the filming! Ian was apparently lovely, and very sympathetic. She thanked HIM for being a gentleman, then as soon as she got out of the venue, she burst into tears. We all couldn't stand him after that.

What a complete knob he is.

JenniferBooth · 22/07/2024 16:51

Julianne65 · 22/07/2024 09:56

I took my mum to see Giovanni’s show last year and was surprised at how sexist some of his comments were.

I’m also amazed that Anton was allowed to keep his job after two racist comments. Absolutely shocking!

Im half Italian and none of this has surprised me at all.

TigathaChristie · 22/07/2024 16:52

@Simonjt - so it sounds like Will knew was risking permanent damage but wasn't listened to. I'm surprised that he was unsuccessful in suing them if that article is correct. The fact that one of their angles has been inclusivity for people with disabilities makes it even more shocking to me.

Mirabai · 22/07/2024 17:10

So everyone has complained about everyone at this point.

I used to watch it but it got tackier and weirder, perhaps it’s time to put it out of its misery.

Or reboot it with the disclaimer: no “celebrities” were harmed in the making of the show.

Nanny0gg · 22/07/2024 17:10

Teddybearpicniccelebration · 21/07/2024 22:54

I'm boycotting the show this year.

Edited

I think there are strong odds it will be axed anyway

leeverarch · 22/07/2024 17:16

I can't help wondering if the Beeb will pull the plug after all this stuff that's been coming out lately.

Dearg · 22/07/2024 17:18

IncessantNameChanger · 22/07/2024 11:44

Didn't i hear on the radio that he kicked her to get the best out of her? Unbelievable. It would be OK to kick a racing horse or a racing dog but a woman? Why not

Anton on life stories just comes across as a total narc. I thought that put him in really bad light. I was trying to get to grips with his self love humour but he didn't seem very humble.

Sorry, do I understand you to say it’s ok to kick animals ?

Seriously, just don’t kick any living creature, unless it is attacking you.

IncessantNameChanger · 22/07/2024 17:41

Dearg · 22/07/2024 17:18

Sorry, do I understand you to say it’s ok to kick animals ?

Seriously, just don’t kick any living creature, unless it is attacking you.

Show quote history

I mean it's not OK, it's,a typo. It's not OK to kick a horse to make it run faster, it's not OK to kick a woman to motivate her to dance better. It's insane logic to use violence to motive anything. I can't belive anyone thinks like this tbh

Dearg · 22/07/2024 17:49

IncessantNameChanger · 22/07/2024 17:41

I mean it's not OK, it's,a typo. It's not OK to kick a horse to make it run faster, it's not OK to kick a woman to motivate her to dance better. It's insane logic to use violence to motive anything. I can't belive anyone thinks like this tbh

Show quote history

Ok thanks for clarifying. Totally agree.

Its time to retire the sequins and the clearly false gushing of Strictly, once and for all.

MarkWithaC · 22/07/2024 18:06

Apart from anything else, I read a while ago that Giovanni had retained a lawyer. They're not exactly doing their job if they haven't told him not to make comments like that.

SprigatitoYouAndIKnow · 22/07/2024 19:20

Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been saying for a few years about how bad the experience was. The producers were pressuring her to be more sexy, the spending ages pressed up against another man was hard for her her husband and her kids missed her in the run up to Christmas. She described it as a cult.

It does seem quite likely that it might be paused and rebranded after a year.

romatheroamer · 24/07/2024 19:23

Krishnan's interview with Amanda is the main story on Ch. 4 News.
She said she and her children have received death threats. Must be some real charmers among Strictly fans...glad to say I've never watched more than a few minutes of it.

JenniferBooth · 24/07/2024 19:27

romatheroamer · 24/07/2024 19:23

Krishnan's interview with Amanda is the main story on Ch. 4 News.
She said she and her children have received death threats. Must be some real charmers among Strictly fans...glad to say I've never watched more than a few minutes of it.

Thanks Will catch this on Channel 4+1

Purplepeoniesdroppingpetals · 24/07/2024 19:27

Just saw a good interview with Amanda Abington on channel 4 - she was measured, not mad.

Villagetoraiseachild · 24/07/2024 19:33

Really great interview with Krishnan who was on the show at the same time.

JenniferBooth · 24/07/2024 20:30

That was a good interview They should not be allowed to withhold that footage

WhereIsTheHare · 24/07/2024 20:47

I have met Amanda a number of times. She is kind, brave, intelligent and fierce in her support of people who are vulnerable. I never had any hesitation in believing her about the severity of what happened here, and I’m glad to see her vindicated. It’s just revolting that it’s come at such a cost to her.

Gnomegarden32 · 24/07/2024 21:03

I take some satisfaction in the fact it doesn't work to call women 'mad' anymore to discredit what they're saying. Things aren't perfect but there has been a cultural shift and more people recognise this as typical sexist/abusive behaviour I think.

JenniferBooth · 24/07/2024 21:14

WhereIsTheHare · 24/07/2024 20:47

I have met Amanda a number of times. She is kind, brave, intelligent and fierce in her support of people who are vulnerable. I never had any hesitation in believing her about the severity of what happened here, and I’m glad to see her vindicated. It’s just revolting that it’s come at such a cost to her.

The comment about sexual humiliation reminded me of what my drama teacher did when i was 11 Asked me to speak sexily to him in front of the entire class It was 1984 No internet My interpretation of sexy was Marilyn Monroe so i tried to speak like her . He told me it was about as sexy as a bag of washing. Was very confused and embarrassed.

newrubylane · 24/07/2024 21:15

PerkyMintDeer · 22/07/2024 09:53

I feel like a lot of the touring shows are being used as opportunities for the male celebs to "speak out" when they should just shut up and deal with it professionally (i.e lawyers).

Re:Anton...he made my Ballroom dance teacher cry! Either ITV or the BBC had contacted the dance school I attended to ask if there was anyone there who could do a short filmed dance segment with Anton (and Ian Waite), spoke about height etc. She put herself forward and another dance teacher. She'd had a very successful career and was well respected in the dance world, she was the same age as Anton and from being children they'd competed against each other (she said she used to win more!).

She was expecting him to recognise her, be pleasant etc. But what actually happened was that he took one look at her, and her younger, slimmer, prettier, taller colleague and he said "trust me to end up with the short, fat, ugly one" then refused to look her in the eye or talk to her for the rest of the filming! Ian was apparently lovely, and very sympathetic. She thanked HIM for being a gentleman, then as soon as she got out of the venue, she burst into tears. We all couldn't stand him after that.

I've also heard similar things about Anton's behaviour when he was a guest at some charity event and was a dick - refused to dance with any of the ladies and was just rude and unpleasant.

Thewaytogohome · 24/07/2024 21:48

I was confused about the BBC withholding the training footage. I thought with data protection, anything held on file (including emails/video/pics) the subject can gave access to. I'm not expert though but it did confuse me.

WearyAuldWumman · 24/07/2024 22:01

JenniferBooth · 24/07/2024 21:14

The comment about sexual humiliation reminded me of what my drama teacher did when i was 11 Asked me to speak sexily to him in front of the entire class It was 1984 No internet My interpretation of sexy was Marilyn Monroe so i tried to speak like her . He told me it was about as sexy as a bag of washing. Was very confused and embarrassed.

Show quote history

That's awful.

I did Drama for one year at Glasgow Uni as my third subject/a minor. We had 'movement' once a week.

One time the tutor demanded that we do pelvic thrusts. Finished up bellowing at us: "What's wrong? Don't you know how to copulate?"

Well, actually, at the age of 18 some of us did not know. (Late 1970s.)