Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gio: So wrong to let trolls attack Shirley
Strictly dancer blasts death threats
STRICTLY’S Giovanni Pernice has urged social media sites to do more to combat trolls after the talent contest’s head judge was sent vile online death threats.
Shirley Ballas was targeted when she eliminated him and his celebrity partner, Ranvir Singh, from the BBC1 show’s semi-final.
The professional dancer said: “These trolls are really, really bad. The companies should do more and control that side of it.”
Giovanni, 30, also hit out at the people who bombarded Shirley with hate messages.
He said: “I don’t understand why people at home wish to get that involved. Absolutely, get sad or upset – I can understand that.
“But saying to Shirley, ‘You have to die’ because she didn’t save Ranvir – that’s too much. There’s a difference between, ‘You have to die’ and ‘I don’t agree with your decision’.”
Giovanni respected Shirley’s decision to send Made In Chelsea star Jamie Laing, 32, and Karen Hauer, 39, through to the final instead of him and Good Morning Britain’s Ranvir, 43.
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He said: “Shirley is a dancing legend... I think that night she thought Jamie had more energy.
“Obviously, I’d be lying if I was saying I was happy about it. I want to make the final.
“But Shirley knows what she’s talking about and if she makes her decision, all I can do as a dancer is respect her as a teacher.”
Shirley, 60, was horrified to become a victim of “terrible name calling” after she made her dance-off decision in December.
She said: “When it starts getting into talking about putting you in a coffin, or saying horrible things about you, or saying the lowest of the low words you can use for a female... I guess I’m a little sensitive to that.”
Fellow Strictly judge Motsi Mabuse, 39, also hit back at trolls targeting Shirley. She said on Instagram: “Attacking her is attacking me.”
Giovanni hosts exclusive dance classes on Instagram, from Monday to Friday, 5-6pm. Book now at www.lockdownclass.co.uk.
Saying ‘You have to die’ because she didn’t save Ranvir – it’s too much GIOVANNI PERNICE ON VILE ONLINE MESSAGES