Strictly's Graziano Di Prima addresses kick allegations following exit
Former Strictly Come Dancing star Graziano Di Prima has addressed the allegations that he kicked celebrity partner Zara McDermott, saying that he didn’t intend to cause any harm.
The Italian professional was axed from the BBC series back in July, with the corporation sharing a statement which said that they would act “swiftly” if their “robust duty of care procedures” were breached.
McDermott, who danced with Di Prima in the 21st series last year, subsequently released a statement in which she said that her experience inside the training room was “very different” to the rest, adding that videos of “particular incidents” were “distressing to watch.”
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Following the statements, a spokesperson for Di Prima said during an interview that his client had admitted to making a “mistake” after he "kicked" McDermott, adding that the dancer apologised at the time of the incident.
Di Prima, who debuted on Strictly in 2018, has now shared with the Daily Mail: “Those rehearsals were nine months ago. I can be strict, I can be passionate. I want my partner to go as far as they can. She wanted that, too.
“You can't imagine how many times my mind has been going back and forward trying to think of something that happened all those months ago that I can't figure out. The only thing I can think of is the time I kicked the floor in frustration.
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“We'd practised hour after hour to perfect a routine with lifts. It wasn't easy but that's the pressure of the show. I was in pain from lifting her so many times but wanted to get it right. I thought I could save her [from elimination]. I wasn't meaning to kick her. I'd never, never do that.
“My foot brushed her after I kicked the floor. Afterwards I hugged her and said I was sorry. There was no problem. We carried on. I'm not sure if this is it or if it's from when we, as professional dancers, move our partner's leg with our foot. That is what is so difficult for me - not knowing.”
Strictly Come Dancing will return later this year on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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