Zara McDermott hits back after ex-Strictly pro Graziano Di Prima claims he only kicked her once
19 July 2024, 12:40 | Updated: 19 July 2024, 12:53
Zara McDermott has hit back after her former Strictly partner, Graziano Di Prima, claimed he only kicked her once.
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Di Prima was sacked after reports emerged that he “hit and kicked” the former Love Island star while training on the show last year.
He has since apologised in a statement, saying he "crossed the line" but he insisted it was a one-off incident.
McDermott's reps have since hit back saying: "It’s a matter of public record that the BBC deemed the conduct to be so severe that they removed him from the show immediately.
"Zara has already confirmed in a statement released on her social media earlier this week that the reported conduct was not a singular incident."
Read more: Strictly scandal deepens as pro Nadiya Bychkova 'makes complaint against show'
It comes after Di Prima's spokesperson, Mark Borkowski, said: "There is never a time when kicking, or any sense of that is right. And he knows that.
"He knows he's made a mistake. He apologised at the time."
Mr Borkowski claimed Di Prima “does remember that he was pushing (McDermott) quite hard” but “doesn't recognise some of the issues surrounding it."
"The descriptions of what is being commented online, and how he remembers it, are not aligned," he said.
He branded claims Di Prima was aggressive on more than one occasion “absolute rubbish”.
There is also "lots of evidence" Di Prima and McDermott "has a huge amount of fun together through this process", Mr Borkowski added.
McDermott opened up about the “extremely distressing” incidents that occurred earlier this week.
Sharing a statement on Instagram, she said: "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.
Read more: TV bosses break silence on Strictly's investigation into former dancing star Giovanni Pernice
"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."
McDermott continued: "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."
It has been claimed that Di Prima has returned to the £6-an-hour job he held at a Sicilian vineyard before rising to fame.
A friend said he is “totally alone…digging ditches and clearing wood” after returning to Italy with his wife.
“Graziano has gone back to basics working on the land,” the source told MailOnline.
“He's totally alone in the field digging ditches and clearing wood, a standard practice to prevent fires, working for a minimal sum but it's not about the money.
“Manual labour is what he grew up doing, since he was eight-years old.
“It's about keeping his mind active and a distraction technique from the toxic fallout of his departure from Strictly.”
Those close to the Strictly star have told him to focus on the present and move on from his career in the UK.
“He's been told to concentrate on his mental health, as he is in a bad place,” the friend added.
“'There's a real push for him to eat healthily and sleep well, he really needs to knuckle down and think of himself right now.
“Who knows what the future will hold, hopefully, it can still be in dance as that's why his body is built for - it's all he knows.
“But for now Strictly is firmly at the back of his mind. He accepts that he will never grace the Strictly dance floor again. He has lost everything.”
