I also totally agree with this post. What exactly Giovanni has done to be classed as arrogant is a mystery to me. If anything, he looks fairly nervous and seems just to want to make a good impression. Either way, there was no need for Len's comments last night and it made uncomfortable viewing. Not really what I want from a light hearted Saturday night entertainment show.

^^ This! Was it really necessary to make everyone uncomfortable? If that happened in any other workplace the person who'd done it would quite rightly be told it was inappropriate behaviour. If Len wanted to give Giovanni a b**llocking, the time to do it was in private, not in front of however many million people were watching! A straightforward comment along the lines of "I'm sorry, I know you are new but there wasn't enough Rumba content in that routine and my mark will reflect that" would have sufficed.

I totally agree. I'm not a huge Giovanni fan but he did nothing wrong here. He shook his head as he did not agree with what was said but as soon as Len had a pop at him he was terrified and immediately apologised.

Len was downright rude and nasty. This is happening more and more with him. It is not acceptable behaviour and he should be told so.

Yeah this is my main beef with the show tbh. No problem with Darcy judging a ballet competition or Craig and Bruno judging musical theatre choreography... but I don't rate them as judges specific to latin and ballroom, even for a show like strictly. Their terminology is often wrong... at least Len knows the names of the steps and can recognise them. Ex strictly pros would be so much better IMO. Ian Waite would be great!

It is the inconsistency that surprises me- I specifically remember (memory not what it used to be but I'm sure this is right...) Emma Buntons rumba being criticised by a judge for being a series of poses and Len saying that that was how many rumbas are danced competitively... He stuck up for it! And that was choreographed by Darren Bennett- and not many could fault his experience or choreography.
I've just seen someone on another thread speculate that the problem is that giovanni lacks dance/choreography experience- he is an Italian Latin champion/ checking him out on YouTube shows he sure knows what he is doing competitively (which can't actually be said for Karen, Jeanette etc- whom I have no problem with but just want to use to highlight the fact that giovanni is a far superior Latin dancer than either)

I'm sure the other pro dancers had a word with Giovanni and tried to make him feel happier after the way he was treated. He looked a bit like a frightened animal in the headlights of a car afterwards. It is though he isn't allowed to react to the judges comments. He is not like JJ or even Brendan and Anton, he is young and it's his first year. A quiet word after the show would have been better.
I hope the producers have a quiet word with Len next week, also I hope Len does not hold a grudge, I feel sorry for Giovanni and Georgia next week he will be a bag of nerves after that.

I think he is very nervous too- I think that's what all the sweating is about! 😂

Agree with most of the later posts on this thread.

He sweats because he's nervous.

He's forced by the producers to portray himself as Vincent 2.0.

In truth, he's probably just a sweet quiet chap, who's being pigeonholed because of his nationality. If you think about it, his treatment is actually quite offensive.

Well, he wouldn't be on the show if he didn't fit into a box..

I felt sorry for Giovanni. There was no need for Len to react the way he did. I don't think its the worst that Len has reacted but its uncomfortable to watch. I didn't take Giovanni shaking his head as a sign of disrespect and he seemed very upset that he'd caused offence.

Sure call him out on his lack of rumba content and if he comes back week in and week out lacking content pull him up on it but just for shaking his head? Len shakes his head when he doesn't agree with one of the other judges usually when they are making a valid point. At least Giovanni was listening. Len can be really nasty at times, for everything people say about Craig at least you come into the show knowing that he's playing the panto villain and will come out with something nasty probably at least once or twice when you are on the show, Len can be down right rude and personal. There are so many reasons why Giovanni could have been shaking his head, yes be upset that there was a lack of rumba content but don't single someone out for shaking their head! Even if he was disagreeing (which he might not have been! As people have pointed out it could have been towards Bruno's silliness or it could even be out of nerves or something) so what? At least he wasn't butting in and disagreeing with them, he let them talk and would hopefully go back and look at it again and realise what they said was right.

As for the comparisons to Vincent I believe its the role he's been given and I'm sad they decided just because he's Italian he has to play that role. In the VTs he looks OK doing it but on the live shows (and I haven't watched ITT this year so only going on live shows) he looks so nervous and confused by it all. Maybe that is why I like him so much because in the VTs I just see it as a comedy thing and the rest of the time I feel like I'm seeing a much more normal Giovanni who looks like a nice guy but feels out of place on Strictly. I like all three new professionals (Oti the best though!) and get don't feel the VTs do them any favours (well maybe Oti who is just cool.)

Didn't think Len was very well mannered but Giovanni was far too smug and gave the impression he was ignoring the judges critique. I think the beeb are trying to replace Vincent!!

It's really hard for me to believe it's just nerves. Surely after many years of international official competitions, he must be so used to performing in front of judges that it doesn't scare him. I've never seen an amateur sweat that much on this show and they are way out of their comfort zone - he's right in the middle of his. And it's - every dance - not just the jive but the slower waltz and rumba. And I don't think terrified people would have the nerve or even the energy left to shake their head in aggravation at judges' remarks. Oh well, whatever it is, after three dances, I'm beginning to think he'll always be like that.