Amen to that.

With whispers about Laura and her allegedly abusive and bullying behaviour remaining?

I disagree. Some things you don't sugarcoat, laugh off or let lie. And if you're a true friend or conscientious work colleague you speak out in support of someone having serious whispered allegations made against them not caring about any consequences for yourself.

Showbiz world is so fake. For me, there are so many missing pieces??.
For a moment if we assume it's true that Laura had sent abusive texts, no way are the judges going to take her side on that last Saturday, please don't say, they didn't know, they know everything. The interview on ITT, the Friday before was one of the best ones, so??? Conclusion that she didn't do it.

I am only proving that it's not true.

When Laura has said she didn't and this is an appreciation thread?

Sorry, I was only proving it's not true. Laura can say, but we need others to come out and confirm, until then the label will be there.

The allegations in respect of bullying relate specifically to a series of text messages. Its quite tightly phrased. Not to conversations, arguments or any other interactions, in for example, the training room where just two people know what happened. Its down to some text messages. And yes, workplace bullying does extend to email and text.

The rest of the article in the Mail and the Sun to me is no more than the fact that they didn't hit it off behind the scenes - a bit of a non-story.

So... her friends on Strictly probably don't know what Laura puts in text messages. They could, however, say that she is a nice person, a good friend and that the press are tomorrow's chip papers. I don't know why more people haven't done that.

Maybe the Strictly cast and crew have been asked NOT to comment, even supportively, to stop the story developing legs?

Laura is at an event at Somerset House tonight. With Daisy Lowe.

Where did you find Laura's official statement??.

Hello Sarah

The Mail updated their article, which was sent to the BBC and Laura's representatives for comment. The article was updated in the afternoon with the following:

A spokesperson for Laura Whitmore told MailOnline: 'Laura did not send abusive texts and is very hurt by these accusations.'

Its buried in the middle of the article now.

So that is the official response so far (probably via her management M&C Saatchi, who are very professional).

Thanks LL. I am really pissed off with the whole thing. I am not happy with her management as well. What kind a crap is a that, just one sentence??. They might get Laura an interview with someone, would that help, only time will tell.

It already has developed legs, the Mail article has been picked up by multiple news outlets and once an accusation is out there on the Internet it stays forever.

Gio could refute these allegations or show the proof. You do not publically slander someone in this way without proof and by not refuting them he's giving credence to the sympathetic source.

I personally am sure these allegations against Laura would not stand up to any sort of scrutiny.

BIB - Totally agree.

BIB
Thanks for clearing that up.

This was what Giovanni said about Laura.


On a personal level, based on the opinion I have formed from seeing, hearing, and reading about Laura, I didn't need Laura to deny it - I had assumed it anyway. I don't need anyone else to deny it either.

Some people will believe what they want to believe - no matter what is said or written.

Its an odd response. Very, very limited. In reply to a long article.

But its a perfectly respectable approach to say the absolute minimum and hope that the story just dies. The first aim is to stop the story being repeated and recycled with two fresh sentences at the top.

Clean up operations can start later.

I am one of those people who has been saying that they got along, now I don't know.
I think Giovanni has to confirm or deny it, this is not a small matter and will affect Laura in the long run. After all the crap she had to put up with, now this??.

The 'allegations' are supposedly from un-named 'sources'. There is no evidence to refute.

There is still a principle in the UK that you are innocent until proven guilty.

One good thing from this is it made me look at Giovanni's twitter and I found

This

So talented

One person can clean it up straight away. If I was in her team, I will write to BBC, asking them to produce the evidence or refute the allegations. Take your pick.
You can't keep quite.

The way I see it is that it's a complete non-story. If they didn't get on, so what? It's only crazy fandom that needs perfect little dolls and dollikins to admire. So Gio and Laura only put up with each other? They still produced some fabulous dances, and, but for some stinking bad luck with injury and social media (and the presence on the show of two of the ringerest ringers of all time), they could and should have been part of the show for a few more weeks at least.

Still think they gave some of the funniest ITT moments and got on OK until that very last interview when they manifestly hated each other almost as much as Brendan and Ana

I think they worked well together, but they may have had different opinions at times. To me, that is part of the test of being on Strictly. You have to find ways to adapt, and I think they did that. Other couples might get through it all with no disagreements, but I actually give extra points for dealing with pressure and issues.

Nobody is perfect, and even two nice people are not bound to become friends. Great if they do, but fine if they don't.

Absolutely this Sarah.

I sense Laura will fully challenge this and she's right to do so.

All it needs is a difference of tempo in the mood dept. Maybe Gio is an in-the-moment blow-up and then forget-about-it character (I am drawing deeply on Italian stereotypes here) and maybe Laura is more of a brooder about troubles... That's all it would take to breed and sustain disharmony. If they were still competing, they'd have mended it because they'd have to. If they'd left at a moment of agreement, all would be fine. But it ended in one of the cross patches, so to speak, and that moment is now enshrined as The Truth by some murky little insider

I've been saying that on the MF. I don't care if they're not best mates, I enjoyed watching their dances. Many people who work well together creatively with good on screen chemistry don't get on behind the scenes and that's fine.

But going public with accusations of abuse and bullying with nothing to back that up is a very different thing and could seriously affect Laura professionally in the longer term.

Gio is under contract to the BBC and has to work within their press guidelines. Which are very tight for Strictly. He has almost certainly been told exactly what he can or cannot say - most likely, he has been told NO press comments NO social media updates. And that is good advice. He has not been quoted, he has said nothing on social media, he has said only positive things about Laura on the record and therefore as it stands has nothing to correct.

The Mail may well have a story to correct given Laura has said on the record that she has not sent abusive texts. So they have to stand up their story if push comes to shove. Or apologise. Probably in tiny font on page 138.

Of course he could. One public tweet and he could lay this to rest. Put in writing that she did not send him abusive texts or bully him. Why on earth would the Strictly producers or BBC have an issue with that, it would be a positive for the show.

I'm amazed he hasn't done that already and I'm not going to make excuses for him.