Giovanni Pernice, former professional dancer on Strictly Come Dancing, has celebrated his triumphant win on the Italian version of the show, Ballando con le Stelle, alongside his dance partner Bianca Guaccero. Their victory, marked on Saturday, coincided with the UK edition’s 20th anniversary, providing a moment of joy for Pernice following a turbulent period filled with controversy.
The pairing proved successful, as the duo took home the title on the evening of the show, thrilling fans both at home and on social media. Pernice shared his celebratory moment with fans, posting videos of their win on Instagram, captioned with “la coppia vince,” which translates to “the couple wins.” The 34-year-old British-Italian dancer expressed his happiness and gratitude to his supporters, acknowledging their key role in his success.
“To all my dear friends in the UK who are supporting us all the way. We just want to say a massive thank you, because realistically, we couldn’t do anything without you. And I tell you why, because, the way the vote works, it’s all about likes on social media. We can totally see which part of the votes are coming from the UK and you are being unbelievably amazing,” Pernice stated, recognizing the support they've garnered from fans back home.
The triumph, though sweet, arrives at the heels of allegations of inappropriate behavior against Pernice, made by his former dance partner Amanda Abbington. It was revealed earlier this year during the BBC’s investigation, which upheld some of Abbington’s complaints about Pernice, marking his conduct as falling short of the professional standards expected on set. While some allegations were confirmed, there were no findings of physical aggression, leading to mixed sentiments surrounding his public image.
Abbington described her experience as part of a “toxic environment” during their partnership on the dance floor, which led her to come forward publicly. Following the investigation, she expressed feeling “vindicated” and maintained her stance, insisting she had “no regrets” about voicing her concerns, even amid facing threats and backlash from some quarters, including death threats.
The potential consequences of these allegations loomed over Pernice's career, prompting queries about his return to the UK show. When asked about it on the ITV show Lorraine, he responded cautiously, “Who knows, never say never.”
Bianca Guaccero, who has been romantically linked to Pernice since they began performing together, shared her joy and disbelief on social media platforms, referring to their fans personally with gratitude. “Grazie a voi, non ci posso credere,” she wrote, which translates to “thank you all so much, I can’t believe it.” This newfound partnership between the two has sparked marriage rumors, adding another layer of intrigue to their dance partnership outside of the spotlight.
Despite the controversies and the cold climate of public opinion surrounding his previous involvement with the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, Pernice has emerged with renewed positivity from his victory on Ballando con le Stelle. The moment shed light on both his dancing skills and the resilience of the support community eager to rally behind him.
With fresh accolades, there is anticipation surrounding what’s next for Pernice and whether he will continue his dance career on potential future shows. For now, he enjoys the celebration of not just his individual triumph, but the close bond he shares with his partner, as they navigate their relationship on and off the dance floor.
Still riding high from the emotions of triumph, Pernice has charted his path back to the limelight, buoyed by his victories which encapsulate not only skill and talent but, with Guaccero by his side, perhaps something more enduring.
