Graziano Di Prima’s wife has responded to Zara McDermott’s statement over reports the Strictly star ‘punched and kicked’ her.
Graziano, 30, was axed from the BBC programme last week amid reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara, 27, during last year’s series.
On Tuesday, the Love Island star broke her silence by explaining on Instagram that her time on Strictly was “everything I could have imagined” but that there were “certain incidents that were incredibly painful”.
Following her statement, Graziano’s wife Giada Lini showed her support for her husband by unfollowing Zara on Instagram.
Zara still follows Giada, despite unfollowing Graziano when his firing was announced. Her boyfriend Sam Thompson quickly followed suit.
Graziano Di Prima’s wife has responded to Zara McDermott’s statement over reports the Strictly star ‘punched and kicked’ her
Graziano, 30, was axed from the BBC show last week amid reports he verbally and physically abused his celebrity partner Zara, 27, during last year’s series
Zara wrote in her statement: ‘I felt it was right to post something about the recent media reports,’ Zara began. ‘Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I have dreamed of being on since I was a little girl.’
‘When I was invited to join the show, it was truly a childhood dream come true. I fully understood how much dedication and hard work Strictly would bring and I dedicated my all to it.’
“I am a resilient person and I was willing to do whatever it took.”
‘And so much of my Strictly experience was everything I could ever have dreamed of. The whole production team and everyone behind the scenes, and my fellow contestants too, were so amazing to work with.
‘My experience in the training room, however, was very different. There are accounts of my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some of the events, as well as videos of certain incidents that are incredibly painful to watch.
Zara explained that she did not report the incidents at the time because she was “afraid” of negative reactions.
Instead, it was the junior production staff who came forward to tell what they had seen during the investigation into professional dancer Giovanni Pernice.
Following her statement, Graziano’s wife Giada Lini showed her support for her husband by unfollowing Zara on Instagram
Graziano married Giada in a lavish ceremony in Sicily in 2022, seven years after they got together
Zara has since broken her silence after Graziano was fired from Strictly amid reports he verbally and physically abused her
“I’ve struggled with the fear of opening up. I was afraid of the public’s negative reactions, I was afraid of my future, I was afraid of victim shaming,” Zara wrote on Instagram.
‘But after many conversations with the people I love, I found the strength to face these fears. When I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.
I have struggled with the fear of opening up – I was afraid of public backlash, I was afraid of my future, I was afraid of victim shaming. But after many conversations with people I love, I have been given the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak for the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.
‘The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak out, especially in a world where opinions and voices are so loud on social media. This is something I have seen through working with countless women on my documentaries.
‘I would like to thank the BBC and BBC Studios for their swift action and incredibly high level of support, and also everyone who has contacted me – it really means a lot. Love, always. Zara.’
Just two weeks before his resignation, Graziano spoke highly of the friendship between his wife Giada Lini and Zara.
When Giada was asked in an interview with OK! magazine how the couple dealt with the Strictly ‘curse’, she said that cheating can happen anywhere, but the most important thing is to trust your partner.
MailOnline revealed that Strictly production staff raised concerns about Graziano’s behaviour last year, but bosses went no further than giving him silent warnings
Zara wrote that ‘my experience in the training room was very different. There were reports made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some of the events’
Graziano said the couple had socialized with Zara outside the training studio: “We always take our dance partners out to dinner and get to know each other better.”
The dancer had also said in the interview that he and Giada were thinking about starting a family – just weeks before he was fired and “fled the UK to Italy to start a new life.”
On having children, Graziano said, “We’re both dancers and I always tell my wife that she’ll always be there for her when she feels ready.”
Graziano married Giada in a lavish ceremony in Sicily in 2022, seven years after they started dating.
MailOnline revealed that Strictly production staff raised concerns about Graziano’s behaviour last year, but bosses only went as far as silently warning him.
The group expected him to be fired immediately. They were said to be furious that their complaints were ignored, meaning the abuse towards Zara was allowed to continue. Graziano was even signed for the upcoming 2024 series of Strictly.
Following the drama, Strictly Come Dancing bosses have announced plans to employ coaches during training and appoint two new welfare producers
A source from the show said: ‘There were multiple occasions where there was both physical and verbal abuse. It was more physical than verbal, but it was all horrible.’
It was only when staff obtained video allegedly showing Graziano repeatedly hitting Zara – nine months after their first complaint – that he was fired.
Insiders also revealed that Graziano has already packed up his life in the UK and is planning to start over in Italy with his wife Giada, a fellow dancer who stars on the Italian version of Strictly.
A source explained that the dancer, who plans to sue the BBC after his dismissal, has gone into hiding, saying that “Graziano is terrified and in a bad situation.”
“He’s being supported by his wife Giada and they’re planning to pack up and move back to Italy. It’s ruined his career and he knows it,” the insider told The Sun.
“Going back to Italy to start over is the best thing for him and Giada.”