Italian dancer Giovanni Pernice has launched a brutal swipe against some of his former fans who have abandoned him since he was sacked from Strictly Come Dancing.

Giovanni Pernice and Amanda Abbington during the 2023 series of Strictly (Image: BBC)

Giovanni Pernice has stated that he’s “not going anywhere” after he finished his last performance of his UK tour, The Last Dance. The Italian dancer launched a fresh dig against those who had “turned their back” following his Strictly Come Dancing axe last year. The 34-year-old dancer left the BBC show after his 2023 celebrity partner, Amanda Abbington, complained about his conduct and revealed how his “world collapsed” amid the accusations, which were partially upheld following an investigation. Pernice – who has since joined the Italian version of ‘Strictly’, ‘Ballando con le Stelle’ – also embarked on a nationwide tour across the UK following his departure from Strictly.

Taking to Instagram, he wrote, “After I took that final bow at The London Palladium, I was reminded of a song; Rise like a Phoenix, because that’s how I felt. This tour meant a lot.

“As I said before it started, it was personal – a way to say thank you to everyone that has supported me. It was also a way to reflect on recent times, to say out loud some of the things I was feeling.

“To @strictlytheatreco my cast, the whole crew – thank you for everything you’ve done. Thank you for putting your all into it and bringing the show to life, making sure that each show delivered it’s best. Every show I stepped out knowing I had the best team and cast with me – you really are all fantastic.

“To those who turned their back and walked away because it wasn’t good to be seen with me. I see you watching what I’m doing. I see you copying what I’ve already done, using me as your inspiration – you’re welcome. Keep watching. Please keep watching – because this tour may have been called The Last Dance, but rest assured it’s not the last from me, there is much more to come and I want you to see it.”

Giovanni has previously said that his friends shunned him during the Strictly bullying scandal (Image: Getty)

Giovanni also thanked his loyal fans and his loved ones for their constant support, “The Last Dance was a sincere thank you, and I really really hope you felt that. I’ll see you soon for Together Again with my best friend.”

He signed off with, “So as I took that final bow – I felt love from those who matter, I felt pride, I felt satisfaction and now I look forward to what’s to come. Because as I said every show on tour (almost 100 of them) – The Last Dance, doesn’t mean the last dance – I’m not going anywhere. I’m still standing.”

The dancer has previously said that he was shunned by friends during the Strictly bullying scandal. Speaking on the first night of his ‘The Last Dance’ tour, Giovanni said: “I felt the world collapsed… I didn’t have anybody around me.

“All the people that were supposed to be my friends disappeared. Nobody wanted to see me, they were like, ‘Oh, you can’t be with him’.”