Watch Graziano Di Prima gush over Zara McDermott in unearthed interview after he’s AXED for shocking behaviour
GRAZIANO Di Prima was filmed calling his Strictly Come Dancing partner Zara McDermott “beautiful” in an unearthed video.
The Italian dancer competed on the popular BBC show with Love Island star Zara last year and they made it to week six.
But The Sun has revealed that Graziano, 30, has left Strictly amid allegations that he ‘hit and kicked’ 27-year-old Zara during rehearsals.
In the wake of the shock news, a new video has emerged of Graziano praising Zara midway through their Strictly experience.
The pair were interviewed by Fleur East for spin-off show Strictly: It Takes Two, which aired on BBC2, and they were all smiles.
The clip begins with the trio bopping to Can’t Fight The Moonlight by LeAnn Rimes, before Fleur confirms they will be performing an American Smooth to it in the next live show.
When asked how she was finding training, Zara told Fleur: “I absolutely love it. I love the fact that it’s another ballroom that we’re doing, I can use the skills that we learned last week in this one…”
Graziano interrupted: “I mean, you see how she’s going there by herself? Beautiful!”
Graziano has been sacked from Strictly for misconduct in rehearsals with celebrity partner Zara, The Sun exclusively revealed on Sunday.
Video footage from the training room is said to have shown Graziano ‘kicking, hitting and spitting’ at the reality star-turned-documentary maker.
Graziano has now been fired after the claims against him emerged in the inquiry into Giovanni Pernice’s behaviour towards Amanda Abbington on the same series.
That probe began in May and Italian pro dancer Giovanni denies any wrongdoing.
After news of Graziano’s exit was made public, the star spoke out.
He 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.”
He continued: “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.”
Zara has now deleted a social media post which she shared following her Strictly elimination last year.
In the caption, she had praised Graziano’s “work ethic” and said they had shared “laughter every single day”.
But in the wake of his sudden exit from Strictly amid the scandal, the post has vanished.
A host of stars have broken ranks to support Graziano, with the most recent being his fellow Strictly pro Nancy Zu.
Zara and her boyfriend, former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson, have, however, unfollowed him on social media.