Strictly star Graziano Di Prima's 'very concerned' family are stunned by his sacking and 'rallying around him in his time of need' after he fled home to Italy to be with his mother and wife

The worried family of sacked Strictly star Graziano Di Prima say they have been left stunned by his sacking and are 'rallying round him in his time of need', MailOnline can reveal.

The distraught dance star fled home to Italy to be with his mother, his wife, and the rest of the family after losing his job over claims he kicked, hit, and spat at celebrity partner Zara McDermott during training.

Graziano is now staying in a remote family farmhouse surrounded by vineyards where he has been a virtual recluse since the bombshell news of his sacking broke.

Speaking exclusively from his hometown of Riesi, in Sicily, his cousin Pina has revealed Graziano, 30, is being closely monitored by his mother Giovanna and wife Giada.

His actions have shocked his close-knit family, who believe it's out of character for their golden boy who left the small town to become a star in the UK. 

They also revealed Graziano told them he was returning to 'spend the summer here and see his family,' having arrived last Friday, only for the Strictly scandal to break the following day.

Fruit seller Pina told MailOnline: 'We are very concerned about him.'

'We were informed he was spending the summer here and see his family.

'But then we heard this terrible news [about his sacking].

'I have read the stories, but I don't believe all the things that have been written about Graziano.

'I cannot imagine it's all true because I know him so well. 'He's a very respectful man, especially in the way he behaves towards women.

'It's true of all our family, we are very respectful.'

Graziano joined Strictly in 2018 and quickly became a fan favourite but his career was left in tatters after a probe into behaviour of the show's stars, saw ex-Love Island favourite Zara come forward to detail the pro-dancer's rough treatment.

He allegedly spat and kicked her in training which was captured on video, leaving Strictly bosses with little choice but to axe him as they bid to clean-up the show which has been left rocked by the scandals. 

The probe was sparked by allegations of bullying from 2023 celebrity contestant Amanda Abbington which resulted in her dance partner Giovanni Pernice - who denies the claims - leaving the show.

Posting on Instagram to confirm his departure, Graziano wrote: '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.

'Respecting the BBC HR process, I understand it's best for the show that I step away.'

He continued: 'While there are aspects of this story involving external influences that I can't discuss at this time, I remain committed to being strong for my family and friends.

'I wish the Strictly family and the BBC nothing but success in the future.'

He concluded the post: 'I also want to thank everyone who has supported my career, both professionally and personally. When the time is right, I will share my story.'

Bosses of the show, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, have been left reeling by the alleged behaviour of its dancers.

They also fear more former contestants will reveal damaging incidents to taint the family-friendly series, which the BBC regard as their 'jewel in the crown'.

The BBC is also bracing itself for a £1million pay-out to celebrities who have complained of ill-treatment and suffered injuries during their time on the show.

According to a show source, the two-month probe 'has been hell' and 'the worst year in Strictly's history'.

Graziano is now living as a recluse in his hometown, working on a farm for £6 a day, in a bid to get his head straight and process the end of his career in the UK.

Pina, who says the pro taught her how to dance and is 'the best teacher', added: 'When he came back here, he told us he wanted to stay alone, with just his mother and his wife at his side and to have some space and the family understood that.

'He is very sad about what happened, and it's a terrible development and we know it's a massive blow to his career.

'We are close to him and we all sent text messages to him to say we love him, but also respected his wishes that he wanted to be alone.

'We advised him to stay strong and proud and keep his head high.

'He must stay calm – he will come back somehow because of his strong character and the support of his family, I have no doubt of that at all.'

She said the entire family, mostly based around the sleepy hilltop town of Riesi, admired Graziano because 'he's a strong, determined, gritty young man.'

Pina explained: 'He's not afraid of hard work and will do whatever it takes.

'He's always been that way since he was a child – focused on the target.

'He started dancing aged just three or four, and we knew his talent was too big for this town.

'He opened a dance school in the town before he went off to London.

'When he moved abroad, the school closed. He has always deserved much more than Riesi can offer, and if he'd stayed here it would have been a waste of his talent.'

Pina explained she would happily talk to her cousin about his situation but was leaving his mother and wife to handle the situation.

She said: 'I haven't spoken to Graziano about all this, because I want to give him space.

'Of course, if he wants to discuss it, I will do so, but it has to come from him.'

MailOnline revealed this week that Graziano had fled the UK to Italy with the intention of 'getting back to roots' by working on the farm, the same job he did at eight-year-old.

The stone-built farmhouse surrounded by rows of vines, about nine miles from Riesi, is accessible only via severely pock-marked roads.

As the autumn grape-picking season approaches, he is said to be earning just £6 an hour by helping farmhands on a family farm with jobs in the fields.

According to another local source, Graziano's new job is 'just a short-term thing.'

The friend told MailOnline: 'We know that Graz is in some trouble in England, but we don't really have all the details.

'He's probably discussed it in detail with his mama and Giada, but the rest of the family only have what has been written in the news.

'We know that Graziano is a good person, so it's hard to believe he would treat a woman the way that they claim, but in fact he has left the job he loved as a result [of the claims], so everyone is a bit confused. It's all so crazy.'

The friend added: 'Dancing has been his life since the age of about three, so there's no way he will ever turn his back on it in the long-term.

'But for now, he's getting back to his roots by helping his family get ready for the harvest at the end of the summer.

'It's a short-term thing, just while he sorts out whatever is in his head.

'He may never be able to return to the BBC, or even England, to dance, but dancing is his talent, and I'm sure he will do that in Italy or elsewhere – you just cannot keep an energy like his bottled up for long.'

The family farm nestles in the verdant, vine and olive-covered hills south of Riesi, with stunning views sweeping down to the glittering Mediterranean below, some five miles away.

Just how deeply Graziano is connected to these tinder-dry slopes baked in searing 35C heat is clear from his Instagram posts, where he frequently harks back to his childhood with his elder brother Piero, his father Pietro Filippo, a farmer, and mother Giovanna in a small flat in Riesi, or on the family farm.

More recently his parents moved out of the town to enjoy their retirement closer to the land on one of a number of smallholdings owned by the extended Di Prima family in the neighbouring wine-making district of Butera.

Last February he posted a birthday message to his jewellery maker mother, sharing a photo of himself as a toddler in her arms and commented: 'You are the first person who saw my first smile, the first step I took, first dance I danced. I am who I am because of you! I'll never thank your enough…love you so much!'

In September 2015, during the grape harvest, he posted a photo of himself with his brother at the farm, saying in a post translated from Italian: 'This is where it all began. and with you who never cease to surprise me…the scents and colours remained there as always.

'Being able to understand what the land will be for us helps me understand where I come from and what values ​​I grew up with…you are my example.'

In July 2020, he bought his father a small red tractor and posted a photo of the pair of them on it, saying: 'You have been always focused on your work, and I hope this present will help you to work better and with a big smile! Love you dad.'

Soon afterwards, Graziano posted video of himself driving the tractor among the rows of vines, with the message: 'Back to the START'.

Later that Summer, when the grape harvest began in September, he posted a photo of himself with crates of grapes, commenting: 'I will never forget where I come from and where it all began.'

On a lighter note, Graziano has posted TikTok videos of himself and Giada dancing in the farm yard and on the quiet track leading up to it.

On the wall of a Di Prima family property in Riesi is posted an aviso, or memorial poster to his beloved paternal grandfather Calogero Di Prima, who died last year.

Only two years ago, Riesi was the scene of Graziano's joyous wedding to Giada at the beautiful 18th Century Church of San Giuseppe, and locals partied the night away in the town square outside while the official reception was held at the stunning Castello di Falconara, on a promontory overlooking the sea, surrounded by a luxuriant palm garden.

One local who was at the ceremony told MailOnline: 'Everyone knows and loves Graziano here – he is one of us, and we will always stand by him. 

'I hope he can find a way to get through this and get back on track.'