Former *Strictly Come Dancing* star Amanda Abbington received a death threat this week after her fallout with the BBC and Giovanni Pernice, but she will still continue her theatre show *When It Happens To You*.
Amanda Abbington will continue performing in her new theatre show despite receiving a chilling death threat related to her *Strictly* row with Giovanni Pernice, according to the director..
Police are investigating an email which said the Sherlock star will “die on stage” unless she withdraws her bullying complaint against the Italian.
But Artistic Director Jez Bond, who is in charge of When It Happens To You, which Amanda is appearing in at Park Theatre in North London’s Finsbury Park, says she is defiant she will not be cowed.
He told the Mirror: “Amanda is determined to continue. She was shocked and upset, but she will not be intimidated into stepping down. She’s incredibly brave and won’t be beaten.”
Giving new details about the threat, Jez said: “We received an email to the theatre at around 3.30pm on Friday which, given its gravity, was immediately passed on to the senior management team. Clear from the email’s content, the writer set themselves up as a fan of Giovanni Pernice.
“The sender, whilst appearing to create a false account, did not appear to disguise their IP address so we are hopeful that the police will be able to track them down. Our best guess is that it’s from a female. That in itself raises a great societal concern as to why, even for some women, the go-to is not to believe the person calling out abusive behaviour and it speaks to just how hard it is to do and how brave Amanda is.”
Officers arrived at the theatre on Friday afternoon before interviewing the Sherlock star and retrieving data linked to the email in a bid to trace the sender.
Amanda, 53, quit Strictly Come Dancing after five episodes in October last year citing “personal reasons” before reports quickly surfaced that she had demanded footage of her rehearsals, claiming the show and professional dancer Giovanni Pernice, 33, had left her with PTSD.
She has also issued a formal complaint against Giovanni, triggering the ongoing BBC probe, which his camp are said to be confident will end with him being cleared.
Amanda last week told how she has been made to feel like Public Enemy No1. and fears going on trains because of threats of serious violence. And the mum-of-two, who plays the mum of a rape victim in the theatre production, previously revealed she had received other rape and death threats to her two children in the aftermath of withdrawing from Strictly.
Jez, who is also CEO at Park Theatre, said: “Social media is one thing but the approach via the theatre felt to us all like a horrid violation. “While we hope it’s yet another keyboard warrior hiding behind anonymity, we live in a world where crazed members of the public can do strange and devastating things – so of course we have to take all threats seriously. As such we have liaising with the police and taking on board their guidance; and, even before those conversations, booked security for the door.”
Jez added: “It’s sickening to me that Amanda has to go on stage every night delivering an exquisite performance, and holding the stage for a full 90 minutes, with a death threat hanging over her. Amanda is just incredible – imagine how strong, brave and brilliantly skilled you have to be to get through the psychology of that.
“Ironically the main message of the play is about the effects of violence against women. And throughout the previews audiences have been hugely moved – both laughing, gasping and crying – as a result of this impactful piece of theatre.”
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Source: CNN
