‘Incredibly distressing’: Zara McDermott speaks out for the first time since Graziano claims

Zara McDermott has spoken out for the first time after her former Strictly pro Graziano was sacked from the show due to “distressing” footage from their rehearsals.

Graziano has been accused of kicking Love Island star Zara, and the footage has reportedly left everyone at Strictly who has watched it “in tears”. Graziano is also accused of hitting and spitting at Zara, and has since been sacked for gross misconduct.

Speaking in a statement on Instagram about the reports, Zara said her “experience inside the training room was very different” and the videos of rehearsals are “incredibly distressing to watch.”

She said: “I felt it was right that I post something regarding the recent media reports. Strictly is one of the most magical shows on TV and one that I dreamt of being on since I was a little girl.

“When I was invited to be a contestant on the show it really was a childhood dream come true. I fully understood the level of commitment and hard work that Strictly was going to be and I dedicated everything to it. I am a resilient person and I was fully prepared to put in whatever it took.

“And so much of my Strictly experience was everything I could have dreamt of. The entire production team and everyone behind the scenes as well as my fellow contestants were so amazing to work with. However, my experience inside the training room was very different. Reports have been made about my treatment on the show and there were witnesses to some events, as well as videos of particular incidents which are incredibly distressing to watch.”

Via Instagram

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Zara continued: “I have wrestled with the fear of opening up- I was scared about public backlash, I was scared about my future, I was scared of victim shaming. But after a lot of conversations with those I love, I’ve gained the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak to the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show.

“The culture within our society makes it difficult for people to speak up, especially in a world where social media opinions and voices are so loud. This is something I’ve seen through working with countless women on my documentaries. I would like to thank the BBC & BBC Studios for their swift action and incredibly high level of support, as well as everyone who has reached out to me – it really truly means a lot. Love, always. Zara.”

Graziano has made a statement following his sacking, which said: “I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly. My intense passion and determination to win might have affected my training regime. Respecting the BBC HR process, I understand it’s best for the show that I step away.

“While there are aspects of this story involving external influences that I can’t discuss at this time, I remain committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family and the BBC nothing but success in the future. I also want to thank everyone who has supported my career, both professionally and personally. When the time is right, I will share my story.”

This weekend the BBC confirmed the pro will not appear in the next series, and released a statement which said: “We can confirm that Graziano Di Prima is no longer a part of the line-up for the upcoming series. While we would never comment on individual cases, it is well-known the BBC has established robust duty of care procedures, and if issues are raised we will always take them seriously and act swiftly as appropriate.”

Related stories recommended by this writer: 

• ‘Stomachs dropped’: Details of Zara and Graziano footage that ‘left Strictly staff in tears’

• Strictly’s Graziano is ‘in bits’ and ‘being monitored 24/7’ following Zara McDermott claims

• Sam Thompson and Zara McDermott are ‘in crisis talks’ and she’s ‘walked out on him’

Featured image via BBC