International TV Co-Editor
Zara McDermott speaks out on Graziano's Strictly scandal | This Morning
Former Strictly contestant Zara McDermott has broken her silence on the sacking of her former partner Graziano Di Prima, saying watching videos of her time on the show is "incredibly painful".
Di Prima has quit the BBC stalwart's line-up this year following allegations of "gross misconduct" against one of its female celebrities, who was soon revealed to be McDermott, a former Love Island contestant who has directed a number of BBC documentaries. Di Prima has apologised and said he "deeply regrets the events".
McDermott posted on Instagram today: "I've struggled with the fear of opening up – I was afraid of public backlash, I was afraid of my future, I was afraid of victim shaming. But after many conversations with people I love, I was given the strength to face these fears, and when I was asked to speak on the BBC, I spoke candidly about my time on the show."