Neil's been supportive of Laura since day one and paid her some lovely compliments on Choreography Corner, he clearly believed in her ability.

He definitely tweeted that message I remember seeing it at some point.

I am sure Laura is really appreciating (no pun intended) all the support she has at the moment Ochre and you're right, Neil has always recognised her beautiful dancing.

Totally agree with everything about Neil. I really loved his choreography corner with Chloe, I must support them next year. If I am sane enough.

He must have deleted it.

Hello Huph - Gio put on Twitter

Thanks for the great journey together.. great partner and a great dancer @thewhitmore and thanks for all your support guys ! Love Gio

Gio has made it totally clear, on social media and in interviews, that he has good things to say about Laura and has expressed them professionally. That should be enough.

I am very sorry for both Laura and Gio to have unpleasant stuff written about them.

I liked their dances very much.

I am not appreciating the Daily Mail at all and the article was damaging to both Gio and Laura. The main problem here is the tabloid press.

Frankly, the other problem is the BBC who have not commented and have been asked by the Sun and Mail to comment

I suspect the BBC can't comment because there's absolutely no evidence to support a bullying and abuse claim and they know that but Gio won't publically refute his sympathetic source.

I would think the producers would much prefer to issue a statement saying 'There is no truth to claims of bullying or abuse by Laura Whitmore' and lay the whole thing to rest.

Am I missing something? Is the source someone close to Gio?

The mail article also says (from another source) Gio was mean to her backstage and this tainted her experience.

Don't think she looks great in the picture from Somerset House. Can't say i'm surprised though after what she has been through.

ETA There was another tweet from Gio which said she had taught him a lot and some other nice things but can't find it now

That is not what the BBC team did with the Ola/Steve Backshall thing. They kept silent. Ola kept silent. Steve kept silent (until out of the show and then he simply dismissed the allegation).

ie minus James jumping around on twitter, it was exactly what is happening here.

And to look on the bright side, unfed, the story dies. It's not even an issue on the DS main 👀

I saw a close up of Laura in the Somerset House pics where she looked like she'd been crying Huph

The source appears to me to be someone close to Gio and their on record allegations an over the top response to the original Sun story, I am simply amazed there's been no response from him.


Laura's already left the show and I see no issue with Gio and the BBC making a statement now. On the contrary, it would paint him in a better light. What good would a statement from Gio be in December? Damage already done to Laura.

Allegations of this nature don't go away. I've read endless comments yesterday and today from members of the public willing to believe them without evidence. Do we really live in a society where someone is publically slandered and we say 'oh well, might be some truth to it might not, shame it will follow her round in her career but never mind, awkward to comment so move along' instead of 'prove this or refute it' and stand up for an honourable person's reputation?

There are I think three separate sources by my count in the Mail article. The Sun have different source(s). So that makes four or more. Its tricky.

The story hasn't developed legs because there are no updates, denials or 'helpful' comments. That is a good thing for both Laura and Gio.

I wish the story had not appeared. Now that it has, I am glad that it has died and I hope it stays dead, preferably with a stake through its heart.

Gio has some protection by the BBC and Laura has very good professional advice from M&C Saatchi Merlin.

I keep thinking that Anastacia, Will, Tameka, Naga and now Laura have not had a happy experience or good treatment by the press this year. It seems worse somehow than previous years.

Yes Gio has protection from the BBC and Laura's hung out to dry. The source who made the bullying and abuse allegations spoke to the Mail after the initial Sun story. The rest wasn't much of a story, that is far more serious.

Sign up and have your reputation and friendships unfairly damaged because you're put by others in a partnership you didn't choose, are loyal and have principles, won't go along with an artificial showmance and dare to expect to be able to express an opinion and have a cooperative working relationship with someone who believes in you.

The story regarding the bullying and abuse hasn't died, it's been widely accepted which as a fan of Laura is really upsetting.I'm very sure Laura won't let this lie and I'm glad of that and I know she does have support from true friends and supporters who see this exactly for what it is.

Ochre, you know the drivelling over-written articles in the Mail where Laura stood proudly draped in the admiring tactile arms of Italian hunk Giovanni, in [buy a cheap sweatshop replica of this dress BELOW]?

How much credence did you -- or anyone sensible -- give to that shite?

That's exactly the measure to give this story too. It's inflated, irrelevant, pumped up, malicious nonsense. As anyone sensible would say. Bully is such a stupid word. I've no doubt that the two of them are capable of sharply-worded comments. Good for them. How any one sensible could work up an ordinary human relationship into a publishable story is beyond me
😶

She has been accused of sending him abusive texts Dervla. That is a serious allegation, not typical Mail SOS fiction.

It's still shite

It's slanderous and Gio and the BBC should have dealt with it straightaway.

I haven't commented on this whole nasty episode so far, but I can't help but be disappointed in Giovanni. I wasn't particularly a fan last year, neither liking nor disliking him, but he had grown on me through his partnership with Laura. I think it is quite cowardly to make no response, whether or not he has been advised. The strain and upset was clear to see on her face in those photos from last night.

Thank goodness she has a great new challenge to look forward to. The author Peter James tweeted from a photoshoot linked to the new play yesterday that he was with his friend Shane Richie and the "wonderful" Laura Whitmore.

In the press the Laura/Giovanni relationship was described as "toxic", but in some ways that is the vibe that I'm getting from the whole of this series of Strictly. There is something about it that makes me really uncomfortable.

Post-Brexit particularly, I should think a foreign worker will do exactly what his bosses tell him to do. As Ola did. It's the precedent that has been set. It works and they won't change it.

Apart from anything else, it would be foolhardy to expect that new news is necessarily going to be 'good' news. Everyone seems to be assuming that all that's needed here is clarity, but clarity might not improve things (for the tender hearted. Though realists may think no different than before...) Better on balance to let the whole thing go away.

Gone is good


ETA Seriously doubt that 'bullying' is in any way a sensible or accurate word to use. I wish newspaper folk would stop throwing the word around. Diminishes the force of real bullying that ruins lives. I suspect 'good old-fashioned barney' would be the better phrase

Dervia, If the story was about 'Strictly curse' or 'Cheating', I wouldn't bother, because I know the papers print those kind of stories, year in year out. Please correct me if
I am wrong, last time this kind of accusation was made 2 years ago against Ola, just realised it's against another woman.

I feel sorry for Laura, from the time she was paired with Giovanni, different kind of accusations have been made against her and not once, has anyone defended her. There is only so much she can take, it's not fair, that is just my view.

There are weird overlaps. The last time an insider made those accusations it was against a woman and there was an ankle in the case too.

I feel uncomfortable with the vibe coming from this series too StrictlyRed. I'm also in complete agreement that it is cowardly for Gio not to have publically refuted the allegations against Laura.

I am so glad Laura signed up for 'Not Dead Enough', presumably she will be in rehearsals before long and it's a long tour which will present a new challenge, take her all over the country and she'll be working with a different group of people.

It was also heartening to see the supportive tweet from the IAC producer. I know she has many professional contacts who won't believe the allegations but public opinion is so important in Laura's line of work.

It is a fair assumption that Gio has been told by his employer the BBC to make no comment. Its his job on the line.

The kernel of truth in the story in the Mail and in the Sun is that they didn't get on very well. When you add the stresses and strains of a nasty injury, knowing that your public vote is not huge, and a super-competitive year, its not hard to imagine a few disagreements under those circumstances. Maybe some of the disagreements were by text message - its conceivable. Its not really a story - just two people who didn't get on that well, probably who should not have been paired up in the first place, but still created some good, enjoyable dances.

I am also getting a bad vibe about the series as I just can't remember this many 'incidents' before. Is the pressure greater than ever? Were the pro dancers simply better with people? Has the casting mix changed the sort of celebs taking part? I am really wondering... Or are there just more leaks and moles etc.

If you mean I might be shocked by what would be revealed you'd be wrong. I'm sure they had some fiery exchanges which came from both sides.

The terms 'bullying' and 'abuse' came from the source sympathetic to Gio and that is what took this too far. Publish the supposedly abusive texts or issue a statement in support of Laura's that it never happened.

I am very sure there were no abusive texts. Did she for example say something questioning his choreography for her? So did two judges and thousands of viewers.

Totally agree with you, Ochre . I want to know the truth.

Bullying has a technical meaning in the workplace. But a commonsense meaning to the public. That is a real problem. A few 'frank' emails and you can easily land up in real trouble.

If I send an email, lets say, that says 'your choreography is completely rubbish' or 'you are a useless teacher' - its (arguably) abusive. It is abusive because it is unfair criticism, unjustified and has no constructive purpose. If I send an email like that repeatedly... its workplace bullying.

So, as I keep saying, this is tricky. It is incredibly easy to go the wrong side of the line with relatively mild comments.