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Strictly's Vito Coppola publicly shared his love and support for Graziano Di Prima five months after the dancer was sacked over abuse allegations.
In July, Graziano was axed from the BBC show over reports he 'hit and kicked' his former partner Zara McDermott, 27, during rehearsals last year.
After a few months out of the spotlight, he has been making his way back into the public eye lately, recently starring in Netflix film, A Paris Christmas Waltz, starring alongside Matthew Morrison, Jen Lilley, Jade Ewen and Paul Freeman.
While his fellow Strictly professionals have not commented on the allegations, on Friday Vito publicly declared his support as he shared a snap of the pair catching up over coffee.
On his Instagram Story the Italian dancers were seen beaming at the camera, with Vito writing: 'amico mio ti voglio bene', which translates to 'my friend I love you'.
Strictly's Vito Coppola publicly shared his love and support for Graziano Di Prima on Friday in an Instagram post five months after the dancer was sacked over abuse allegations
Graziano fled the UK when the abuse scandal broke to his native Italy with his wife - who is a professional dancer on the Italian version of the series.
Earlier this month, he returned for the first time since leaving, being spotted arriving for a dance class in London.
The former Strictly pro recently broke his silence following his sacking as he teased his return to the spotlight.
Graziano took to social media to share he is raring to get back on the stage, posting a moody video of himself walking on a bridge at night time, before being joined by Giada.
Alongside the clip, Graziano wrote: 'Dance has always been the center of my life, my greatest passion, the path I chose and dedicated years of study, sacrifice, and love to.
'After a period of reflection, I feel stronger than ever and eager to return to what I love most: dancing.
'The future is a whole world of new open windows, ready to welcome new dreams and new challenges, and I'm excited to continue this journey with even more determination and inspiration.'
Speaking to his fans, Graziano added: 'A heartfelt thank you to everyone who is always there for me. I'm thrilled to dance again with the same enthusiasm and dedication as always.
'See you soon, whether on stage or through new projects that I will be very excited to share with you.'
In July, Graziano was axed from the BBC show over reports he 'hit and kicked' his former partner Zara McDermott , 27, during rehearsals last year
According to The Sun, Graziano has now 'called in top lawyers to sue the BBC ' in a bid to clear his name.
Barristers from Whitestone Chambers have 'already read thousands of text and WhatsApp messages' and believe the Italian 'could sue for unfair dismissal'.
A source said: 'Graziano feels he wasn't allowed a fair opportunity to give his side of the story so has been heartened to hear the legal team think he has a case for unfair dismissal.'
They added: 'They've also looked at his BBC contract and believe there are grounds to sue. He is weighing up his options but remains hopeful he can clear his name.'
Strictly production staff raised concerns about Graziano's conduct last year, but bosses only went as far as to issue quiet warnings to him.
The group expected him to be sacked instantly. They are said to be furious that their complaints were ignored, meaning the abuse towards Zara was allowed to continue and Graziano was even signed on for the upcoming 2024 series of Strictly .
It was not until staff got hold of a video allegedly showing Graziano repeatedly hitting Zara – nine months after their initial complaint – that he was fired.
Graziano later confirmed and regretted his actions against Zara.
After a few months out of the spotlight, he has been making his way back into the public eye lately, recently starring in Netflix film, A Paris Christmas Waltz
Addressing his exit from the show, a 'devastated' Di Prima wrote on Instagram: '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.'
'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.'
Graziano joined Strictly in 2018 and was last year partnered with the former Love Island star but they were eliminated in week six.
He was previously paired with presenter Vick Hope, Loose Women star Judi Love and in 2022 and he reached the quarter-final with actor Kym Marsh.
English (US) ·