BBC Axes Strictly’s Graziano Di Prima Amid ‘Gross Misconduct’ Claims

The BBC has responded following Graziano Di Prima’s revelation that he has been dropped from Strictly over events he “regrets”. It has been reported that the dancer was axed from the series this week over claims of gross misconduct.

On Saturday (13 July), MailOnline shared the news, and Di Prima confirmed to his followers that he would no longer be part of the forthcoming series set to begin in September. This announcement follows Di Prima’s confirmation last month that he would be returning to the show.

The claims about Di Prima’s departure seem to be connected to Zara McDermott, who partnered with him on last year’s series. In a now-deleted Instagram post, Di Prima expressed his remorse over the events that led to his departure. He mentioned, “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime.”

Respecting the BBC HR process, Di Prima acknowledged that it was only right to step away for the sake of the show. He expressed his sadness about not being able to offer a quote to the online news stories and recognized the sensitivity of the situation.

He further stated, “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.”

The BBC addressed the situation by stating that they take any issues raised seriously and promised swift action if necessary. A spokesperson said, “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.”

Underneath his now-deleted Instagram post, Di Prima expressed his well-wishes for the Strictly family, saying, “I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future. I also want to thank everyone who has supported my career, both professionally and personally. When the time is right, I will share the story of [my] journey.”

More to follow