Giovanni Pernice accused of using offensive term towards colleague with epilepsy

Allegations and BBC response

Giovanni Pernice reportedly called a dance show colleague a derogatory term related to epilepsy during his Made In Italy tour last year. The BBC dismissed the complaint, stating it was outside their jurisdiction.

Colleague's perspective

The stage worker, who also suffers from epilepsy, felt compelled to come forward after hearing about Amanda Abbington's struggles on Strictly. He claimed Giovanni's remark was meant to be humorous, but he found it offensive.

Rebuttal and tour manager's statement

A spokesperson for Giovanni Pernice denied the allegations, calling them part of a smear campaign. The tour manager, Gary Alce, expressed surprise at the accusations, mentioning the close working relationship between Giovanni and the accuser during the tour.

Additional Allegations

Recent reports indicate that Giovanni Pernice also allegedly referred to Amanda Abbington as a "vegetable" following her appearance with her wheelchair-user fiancé.