featured-image

Zara McDermott and Graziano Di Prima were paired together on Strictly (Image: (Image: BBC)) Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Graziano Di Prima has addressed the claims made about him over the past few weeks. The dancer has denied being an abusive person and plans to return to dancing despite facing allegations regarding his conduct with a previous show participant. Di Prima, who was axed from Strictly last month amid claims about his behaviour towards his 2023 celebrity dance partner, ex-Love Island contestant Zara McDermott , has recently spoken out to clear his name.

In his defence, he told Daily Mail : "I didn't deliberately hurt anyone," expressing confusion over the origin of McDermott's accusations. function loadOvpScript(){let el=document.createElement('script');el.



setAttribute('src','https://live.primis.tech/live/liveView.

php?s=114945&playerApiId=v114945');document.getElementById('ovp-primis').appendChild(el)}window.

top.addEventListener('primisPlayerInit',e=>{try{if(e.detail&&e.

detail.playerApiId==="v114945"){if(window.document.

getElementsByClassName('jwplayer')[0]){e.detail.float('disable')}}}catch(e){}});window.

addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',()=>{setTimeout(()=>{if(typeof flagTcfLoaded!=='undefined'&&flagTcfLoaded===!0){loadOvpScript()ExpressApp.Log('[Load] OVP flagTcfLoaded',new Date())}else{document.addEventListener("tcfLoaded",()=>{loadOvpScript()ExpressApp.

Log('[Load] OVP tcfLoaded',new Date())})}},1500)}) "I'm not a monster. I'm not an abusive man," he declared firmly. He admitted he recalled kicking the floor in frustration due to the "pressure of the show".

Don't miss...

Strictly Come Dancing celebrities all smiles as training begins [LATEST] Zara and Graziano worked together on their routines (Image: Zara McDermott/Instagram) He explained he didn't mean to kick her, adding "I'd never, never do that," but said his foot brushed her after he kicked the floor and said he immediately apologised and gave her a hug. Graziano said there was "no problem" and the pair continued. He also stated he will dance again, adding he won't let the claims define him.

This statement follows reports by The Mirror that Graziano had been receiving medical attention and was under hourly observation following his exit from the show. His family said his mental state had left him unable to defend himself, prior to Graziano officially talking about the incident. Don't miss.

.. The Chase’s Anne Hegerty shares what it’ll take for her to sign up for Strictly [LATEST] Dianne Buswell had four words for Strictly’s Amy Dowden as pair reunited [LATEST] Rachel Riley's 'complicated' issue with Pasha exposed as 'we're very different' [LATEST] Zara has also issued a statement since the claims.

(Image: PA Wire/PA Images) SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Read our Privacy Policy Zara issued a statement shortly after the claims came to light, writing on Instagram : "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.

" She explained she had been asked by the BBC to go in to share details of her experience on the show..

Back to Entertainment Page