“I’m back — and I’m not hiding anymore.” With those words, Giovanni Pernice has signalled a bold return to the public eye, more than a year after the bullying controversy that abruptly derailed his career and shook Strictly Come Dancing to its core.
Once one of Strictly’s most recognisable and charismatic professionals, Pernice vanished from the show in 2024 following allegations made by his former celebrity partner, actress Amanda Abbington. The row triggered intense public debate, media scrutiny, and a formal BBC investigation — casting a long shadow over both the dancer and the programme itself.
That investigation, concluded after several months, upheld some complaints relating to verbal conduct and resulted in a formal BBC apology to Abbington. However, the report found no evidence of threatening or physically abusive behaviour. For Pernice, the outcome marked a complex moment of partial vindication — and the possibility of moving forward.
Now, he is stepping back into the spotlight through a high-profile reunion with several of his former Strictly co-stars at a major dance event. Sharing the floor once again with familiar faces, Pernice’s reappearance is being watched closely by fans, critics, and industry insiders alike. For many, it is a symbolic return — not to Strictly itself, but to the world that once defined him.
The reunion is not without tension. While some see it as a natural step in rebuilding a career, others view it as a provocative moment, arriving while emotions around the scandal remain raw. Backstage dynamics, public reactions, and unspoken divides all add to the sense that this comeback is anything but simple.
For Pernice, the past year has been one of reflection and reinvention. Away from the Strictly spotlight, he rebuilt his confidence and career elsewhere, proving his talent on international stages and reconnecting with dance on his own terms. Those close to him say the time away strengthened his resolve rather than diminished it.
Fans, meanwhile, remain divided. Supporters argue he has paid a heavy price and deserves the chance to move on, pointing to the report’s findings as a turning point. Critics counter that the industry must tread carefully in a post-#MeToo era, where accountability and welfare remain under intense scrutiny.
What is clear is that Giovanni Pernice is no longer willing to stay silent or sidelined. His return, deliberate and highly visible, feels less like a quiet re-entry and more like a statement — one that says he is ready to be seen, questioned, and judged anew.
Whether this marks the start of full redemption or simply the opening step of another controversial chapter remains to be seen. But as the music rises and the lights fall once again on Giovanni Pernice, one thing is undeniable: the Strictly story he left behind is far from finished — and the dance floor is watching. 💃✨
