1 month ago
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Strictly Come Dancing's Amanda Abbington "won't hide away" after Giovanni Pernice blasted claims she made against him.
The 50-year-old actress stepped out on Tuesday night for the premiere of fiance Jonathan Goodwin's new musical Amaze at London's Criterion Theatre.
The couple appeared "happy" as they celebrated Jonathan's latest directorial venture. Jonathan, 44, has been Amanda's rock as she battled against the BBC which ruled in her favour in six of the 17 complaints against Giovanni's "bullying" behaviour.
A friend of the couple, who became engaged days after meeting in 2021, said: "Amanda isn't going anywhere.
"She was incredibly proud and happy to celebrate the culmination of Jonathan's efforts. He is an amazing guy and she feels blessed to have had his support and encouragement over these stressful months.
"It seems that people want to bury Amanda, which is what happens to a lot of women who speak out against abuse, but she is a strong woman and she will always stand by everything she said.
"She's not going away or on holiday, it's work and business as usual."
Jonathan previously supported Amanda at the press night of her play The Unfriend in London's West End earlier this year in their most recent public outing together.
And the friend says their relationship is "stronger than ever".
After the BBC apologised to Amanda and revealed the reports findings Jonathan took to Instagram, with a photo of himself and Amanda, alongside Princess Anne, and shared a heart-warming tribute to his fiancé.
The former stunt man penned: “What an amazing woman. Never met anyone so determined to stand up for what's right. To advocate for the needy and to never cow-tow to the bullying media. The Princess Royal is also amazing.”
Following her 2016 split from Martin Freeman, Amanda and Jonathan began dating in 2021 and reportedly got engaged in May last year.
The BBC report - which cost licence-fee payers upwards of £250,000 - found that on one occasion Giovanni told Amanda: 'I'm tired of it, if you want to look s***, I don't care.'
Amanda's complaint that Giovanni would get frustrated with her while teaching her to dance was also upheld by the panel.
At one point, the report found, he said to her: 'You have such talent and you're not using it.' On another occasion he told Amanda: 'I don't know how to ask you any more', and 'it has been four days now and I don't know what to do'.
Giovanni also said 'f***' in frustration as he threw his arms in the air during a rehearsal.
This week Giovanni told how he didn't feel safe in rehearsals and it was he who had actually asked for them to be recorded. He added that he wanted to punch the TV when Amanda claimed "sexual" bullying.
Since speaking out, Amanda has been the subject of death threats with one even investigated by police when she was told "she should be prepared to die on stage" unless she withdrew her complaint about former pro-partner Giovanni.
Even this week one top newspaper columnist tried to write Amanda off saying: "The world is full of abused women but is Amanda really one of them?"
But the friend added: "This happens when women speak out, and Amanda knows she has spoken her truth, there is nothing more she can do. Now it's time to move on."
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