Shock details of how ‘aggressive’ Strictly star Graziano Di Prima treated celeb partner Zara McDermott revealed
GRAZIANO Di Prima screamed so angrily at Strictly dance partner Zara McDermott that she fled and locked herself in a loo, sources claimed last night.
The sacked pro is also accused of telling her: “My dead grandma could dance better than you.”
A source claimed the Sicilian-born dancer, 30, got frighteningly angry at the former Love Island star, 27, during rehearsals.
They said: “Zara ran to the toilets and locked herself in. He chased after her and was screaming abuse. He was aggressive and called her nasty names. It was really scary.”
The Sun on Sunday revealed last weekend Graziano was axed from the hit BBC show amid claims he hit, kicked and spat at Zara.
Sources said last night there were several disturbing incidents, after which Graziano would sometimes apologise.
He could be heard screaming at her through the doors of a dance gym in London, where they trained last year.
The insider said: “You could constantly hear Graziano screaming but when production staff opened the door he would stop. He’d say, ‘How the f*** are you not getting this right?’, and ‘Why are we even bothering to come here?’. Zara was visibly demoralised.
“Just before their live performance on Halloween, Graziano asked Zara if she had gained weight. She didn’t put her foot in the right direction and he was being forceful with her. She was crying behind the curtain during final rehearsals.
“After some of the incidents he’d call and apologise and promise to not do it again.”
Zara, now a BBC documentary maker, was seen in tears after one training session in North London last September.
A photographer asked if she was OK and she replied: “Not really.”
An onlooker said: “Graziano looked furious.
“He had a face like thunder as he marched towards the car and Zara looked nervous. She tried to hide her face with her hair as she climbed into the back seat but she looked very upset and wiped tears away from her eyes.”
On the day the pair were booted off in week six, Graziano is accused of telling Zara: “My dead grandma can dance better than you.”
Last week it was revealed Strictly bosses received two complaints about Graziano but he was only warned.
He was fired for gross misconduct when the claims emerged in the inquiry into fellow pro Giovanni Pernice.
Graziano has since admitted kicking Zara during rehearsals and is now working on a farm in Italy.
It comes ahead of the 20th anniversary series of Strictly, which starts filming on August 21, with the live launch show on September 4.
A spokesman for Graziano said: “Whispers from the shadows fuel outrageous tales and distort the truth.”
Zara’s agent and the BBC were approached for comment.