Zara McDermott has broken her silence following her Strictly Come Dancing partner Graziano Di Prima being dropped from the 2024 line-up.

The former Love Island star, 27, published a lengthy statement on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday morning following reports emerging over the weekend regarding her experience on the BBC show last year.

In her message to fans, Zara – who unfollowed Graziano on Instagram on Saturday – admitted her time inside the training room with Graziano was far from the dream experience she envisaged as a child and “there were witnesses to some events. She confessed a fear of being victim shamed prevented her from speaking out sooner.

Zara’s statement reads: “I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports. Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I dreamt of being on since I was a little girl.

“When I was invited to be a contestant on the show it really was a childhood dream come true. I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly was going to be and I dedicated everything to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took.

“And so much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamt of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with. However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.”

Zara continued: “I have wrestled with the fear of opening up- I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming. But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.

“The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up, especially in a world where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I’ve seen through working with countless women on my documentaries. I would like to thank the BBC & BBC Studios for their swift action and incredibly high level of support, as well as everyone who has reached out to me – it really truly means a lot. Love, always. Zara.”

Zara McDermott addressed her ‘experience inside the training room’ in her statement ( 
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The former Love Island star published her statement on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday ( 
Image:
Instagram/zara_mcdermott)

He continued: “I am saddened that I wasn’t allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation. There’s more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.”

It’s reported that Graziano was shown the door by the BBC on Monday (July 8) evening following claims of inappropriate behaviour towards his 2023 dance partner, Zara. The same night, Alijaz Skorjanec’s return to the Strictly roster after two years away was revealed on The One Show.

Graziano’s Instagram post on Saturday sparked a flurry of fan comments, yet it was notably short on responses from his Strictly Come Dancing peers. Nonetheless, two former celebrity contestants stepped up to offer their encouragement. Susannah Constantine, who graced the dance floor in 2018, was one of the prominent figures to engage with Graziano’s post.

Susanna, who danced alongside now-judge Anton du Beke during her stint, reached out to Graziano saying: “What the hell? ? ? You were always so sweet, kind, funny and thoughtful to me Graziano. Be true to yourself. Cream always rises to the top. Loads of love xxxx.”

Zara unfollowed Graziano within hours of the news of his Strictly exit breaking

However, it’s reported that former soap star Catherine’s original message was slightly longer, with it claimed she also commented “You are the kindest, incredibly talented, most gentle man… I’m so sorry. Sending you so much love x”. The additional message has since seemingly been deleted as it no longer appears in the comment section.

In a statement regarding Graziano’s shock exit a BBC spokesperson said on Saturday: “We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up of professional dancers for the upcoming series of Strictly Come Dancing. While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known that the BBC has established and robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate.”

On the Monday, it was claimed that Strictly bosses were said to have received a couple of complaints regarding Graziano’s behaviour towards his dance partner, Zara during their training sessions last year. Yet, the only action taken was issuing warnings. A source told The Sun: “Graziano has held up his hands and admits his behaviour was extreme and unacceptable. He knows there is no return and quite rightly. Yet why was no action taken sooner to nip this situation in the bud? Graziano feels if he had received proper support and some sort of anger management training, an escalation could have been prevented.”

“For the Beeb’s part, Graziano was not the only dancer being spoken to and they had absolutely no idea about the alleged kicking – which it is claimed happened twice – and as soon as they were alerted, they took decisive action and fired him.” The insider also shared that Graziano is “in bits” over the ordeal and is currently under constant watch by his wife Giada and his mother. They further commented on the escalating tension, calling the “whole Strictly fiasco” “getting increasingly toxic”.

This isn’t the only headache Strictly bosses are dealing with at the moment. As Strictly Come Dancing prepares to mark its 20th anniversary with grand celebrations later this year, it can’t seem to shake off the controversies behind the scenes. Amanda Abbington, who was part of the 2023 series, has reportedly demanded to see her training footage from Strictly Come Dancing amid claims of “threatening and abusive behaviour” by her dance partner Giovanni Pernice, allegations which he has vehemently denied.

Giovanni strongly denies Amanda’s claims ( 
Image:
BBC)

Giovanni, who won’t be gracing the dance floor in the upcoming season of Strictly, has been under investigation after several complaints were lodged against him, including those from Amanda following her early exit from last year’s competition. Amidst the ongoing probe, it’s been reported that Amanda’s representatives have sought access to the rehearsal footage with the 2022 Strictly winner.

However, according to an insider who spoke to The Sun earlier this month, Giovanni has blocked Amanda’s efforts to obtain the recordings. The source revealed: “Amanda and her legal team asked to have access to the tapes. The BBC contacted Giovanni and his legal team to get their consent but they refused. Amanda’s legal team are now weighing up an appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office to get access to the evidence as they think it is vital in helping support her claims.”

Giovanni has previously responded strongly to these allegations, emphatically denying any transgressions in an extensive post on social media during the crisis’s early stages. “He claims the allegations are false – she insists they will validate every one of her grievances,” the source elaborated.

However, according to an insider who spoke to The Sun earlier this month, Giovanni has blocked Amanda’s efforts to obtain the recordings. The source revealed: “Amanda and her legal team asked to have access to the tapes. The BBC contacted Giovanni and his legal team to get their consent but they refused. Amanda’s legal team are now weighing up an appeal to the Information Commissioner’s Office to get access to the evidence as they think it is vital in helping support her claims.”

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Source: USA Today