Inside shamed Graziano di Prima’s life before shock Strictly axe… From twin’s tragic death to bold proposal to wife
HE left Strictly amid a storm of controversy but Graziano Di Prima’s life before the sequins and sparkle was far from ordinary.
The 30-year-old’s early years were marred by poverty and tragedy – including a near-death experience at birth and the loss of his twin brother.
As he grew up, Graziano faced bullying due to his long hair and passion for dancing.
But he overcame these adversities to achieve success on the international stage, married the woman of his dreams and landed his coveted role on Strictly.
Now, insiders are questioning whether his career can recover from damning claims he hit, spat and kicked his former dance partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals.
Graziano was sacked hours after BBC bosses watched video footage of their time backstage – which reportedly reduced production staff to tears.
After another video emerged of Zara seemingly “passed out” backstage, the 27-year-old Love Island star responded in a lengthy statement and said she was “scared to speak up”.
The revelations will come as a huge blow to his beloved mother, who he once referred to as his “best friend forever”.
He often posted pics of his devoted mum on Instagram and tells how she supported him in realising his dreams of becoming a professional dancer.
She also nursed him back to health when he nearly died at birth.
“I was born seven weeks early and my brother didn’t make it,” Graziano revealed.
“They thought I was dead too at first because I wasn’t breathing. In Italian, the name Graziano means ‘grateful’ and my mum chose that name because I was lucky to have survived.”
Humble beginnings
As his family mourned the loss of his twin brother, he spent weeks in hospital for premature babies. He was “skinny” and always suffering from fevers.
And his mother is now at his side again as he is in “bits” over his recent sacking.
“He is being monitored 24/7 by his wife Giada and mum who has moved in to take care of him,” a source revealed.
Unlike many celebrities who have glamorous upbringings, Graziano grew up in a Sicilian vineyard and was driving a tractor by the age of six.
While most of his peers were destined for agricultural lives, young Graziano aspired to make it on the big stage.
“My parents worked on the land all day for a humble income,” he revealed, admitting that he “never” had enough money for luxuries like fashionable trainers.
I nearly died at birth and my brother didn’t make it
Graziano Di Prima
“My mum would never buy me Nike shoes. She would say: ‘We [have to] save money for dancing!'”
But he “understood the sacrifice” and always helped his family on the farm from a very early age.
School was tough for Sicily’s Billy Elliott – he was “bullied” over his long hair and love for dancing.
“Some competitions were a 12-hour car ride away,” he explained. “I was living two lives. At school, I was just a normal kid but outside, I was dreaming about dancing.”
Tough training
Remarkably, Graziano and Giovanni Pernice – who has also left Strictly under a cloud this year – come from the same part of Italy and both attended Europe’s biggest dance school, Team Diabo.
Giovanni – whose celeb pairings have included Amanda Abbington, Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore – was dropped from the hit BBC show amid a flurry of bullying stories.
My mum would never buy me Nike shoes…we saved money for dancing
Graziano Di Prima
After gruelling rehearsals with Giovanni, reports suggest that Sherlock actress Amanda experienced mild post-traumatic stress disorder.
Determined to pursue careers as professional dancers, the pair left their families behind on the island of Sicily in their youth to train at a prestigious dance studio near Bologna in northern Italy, Team Diablo.
The academy has been criticised for creating a toxic environment, where students are pushed to dance for up to 12 hours a day and are encouraged to dangerously lose weight.
Former Strictly professional Joanne Clifton, who won the Glitterball trophy with broadcaster Ore Oduba in the 2016 series, revealed that she was hospitalised after being part of the academy.
“The problem was there were too many dancers — including me — who thought being skinny was good,” she said.
“As well as doing my best to limit my intake of pizza and pasta, and drinking up to ten espressos a day, I cut out meat, which led to me being hospitalised with anaemia.
“That feeling of low energy was horrendous and impacted on my training. For a period of four months, I remember collapsing unexplainably — my body was telling me to change something.”
A Team Diablo staff member denied students are pushed too hard, but said competition prep was not taken lightly.
Monica Cinti, secretary to the director, told The Sun: “Teaching methods are not harsh, but require serious preparation.”
Graziano Di Prima - Strictly statement in FULL
GRAZIANO Di Prima has addressed his Strictly Come Dancing sacking with a statement on social media - see the details below.
In a statement shared to his Instagram page Graziano wrote: “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.”
He concluded the post: “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.”
Strictly break
After leaving Team Diablo school – which has 11,000 members – Graziano forged a successful career as a professional dancer.
In 2018, he joined the Strictly line-up as the partner of radio DJ Vick Hope.
He did not have a celebrity partner for two years but stayed on the show.
He danced with comedian Judi Love in 2021 and a year later was paired with actress Kym Marsh, and reached the quarter-finals.
Last year, he was teamed with TV presenter Zara, but the pair were eliminated in week six of the dance competition.
An old video has since emerged of Zara seemingly passed out which Graziano allegedly took and shared on his Instagram story.
The caption of the clip reads: “She asked me 5 minutes break,” accompanied by a shocked face emoji as the camera zooms in.
The video was recorded just a few days before the pair were eliminated and Zara had reshared the clip shortly after it was posted and seemed to make light of the situation.
I deeply regret the events that led to my departure from Strictly
Graziano Di Prima
He was scheduled to be in the line-up this year but after his shock departure he’s reportedly fled the UK.
“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,” he said in a bombshell statement.
“While respecting the BBC HR process, I acknowledge it’s only right for the sake of the show that I step away.
“I am saddened that I wasn’t allowed to offer a quote to the online news stories, and I take on board the sensitivity of the situation.
“There’s more to this story that I am unable to discuss at this time, but I am committed to being strong for my family and friends. I wish the Strictly family nothing but success in the future.”
Bold proposal
His loyal wife, fellow Italian Giada Lini, 34, who has danced as a professional on the Italian version of Strictly, is believed to be at her husband’s side but has not issued a statement.
The pair have been together for nearly ten years and tied the knot in 2022 at the 14th century Castle of Falconara, in Sicily, which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea.
Graziano proposed to Giada on stage during the Burn The Floor dance tour performance in Watford in 2019.
Former Strictly dancer Oti Mabuse revealed the happy event to her Instagram followers and Kevin Clifton was also there.
Giada told Hello! Magazine if she was concerned about ‘Italian Stallion’ Graziano falling prey to ‘the Strictly curse’.
I’m alone in this big new world and I need her
Graziano Di Prima
She said: “I come from the same background so I understand that if you dance together you have to be very close. I’m not jealous of that.”
Graziano previously described Giada as his rock, saying: “We love each other so we have to be together. I’m alone in this big new world and I need her.”
Right now, he needs her more than ever.
Giovanni Pernice Strictly scandal timeline
October 2023: Amanda abruptly withdraws from Strictly having already missed one live show. Her departure is announced in a vague BBC statement that ‘wishes her the best’.
Giovanni posts a short message on social media addressing the exit, which read: “Amanda… I am so sad we can’t continue but I am proud of what we achieved and I am sending you so much love.”
Amanda then shares her own farewell statement on Instagram thanking co-stars but failing to mention Gio.
Giovanni’s dad Piero insists there were no signs of a fall out and the pairing could have gone all the way. He praised his son as kind and polite.
November 2023: Giovanni is reportedly gutted by the situation and is considering his Strictly future as questions are raised about his conduct.
January 2024: Amanda’s PTSD diagnosis comes to light and she demands CCTV from rehearsals to prove that Giovanni’s training methods weren’t acceptable.
The BBC issues a statement defending its duty of care to contestants, insisting it takes any claims of wrongdoing very seriously.
The Corporation stands by its man after emergency meeting
March 2024: Giovanni publicly states he has no intention of leaving Strictly in a TV interview with close pal Anton du Beke.
Ranvir Singh and Laura Whitmore enter the picture. Allegedly the two celebs, who were both previously partnered with Giovanni on Strictly, didn’t feel the BBC took their issues with his methods seriously enough.
The pair have a closed meeting with Amanda where tears are said to be shed.
May 2024: We reveal Giovanni is leaving the programme after having talks with show bosses
He leaves the country with girlfriend Molly Brown on holiday
The BBC launches an internal investigation after three complainants instruct lawyers. A source describes it as a “nightmare situation”.
