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Giovanni Pernice Confirms Split From Maura Higgins

Giovanni Pernice Confirms Split From Maura Higgins

The couple have confirmed they have gone their separate ways.

Love Island star Maura Higgins and Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Giovanni Pernice have confirmed their split on social media.

Addressing rumours around their split on social media, Giovanni, 31, wrote on his Instagram stories: "I wanted to say a couple of things...

"Firstly, great relationships with great people can come to a natural end. This case for me recently, there was absolutely no wrong-doing and this should be the end of any speculation.

"Whilst I respect and understand interest in my personal life, wouldn't it be fantastic to instead use this space to raise awareness of subjects and issues which need the attention."

Giovanni posted this statement on his instagram stories (
Instagram - giovannipernice)

Maura is yet to speak publicly about the break-up.

The news come after fans of the pair noticed they removed pictures and unfollowed each other.

Maura and Giovanni confirmed they were dating back in July when the Latin dance champion shared a picture of the couple nose-to-nose with the caption. “You’re mine.”

Before her romance with Giovanni, Maura dated dancer Curtis Pritchard, whom she met on the ITV 2 dating show, and former Islander Christopher Taylor.

Giovanni and Maura confirmed they were an item in July (
Giovanni Pernice/Instagram)

Giovanni, who is originally from Sicily, became a Strictly pro in 2015. He went on to date his very first partner, former Coronation Street star Georgia May Foote. She announced their parting in August 2016.

This year Giovanni is paired with another soap star, EastEnders actress Rose Ayling-Ellis who made history by becoming the first deaf contestant to appear on the show.

Before the current series of Strictly graced our TV screens, Giovanni reassured his fans that Maura need not worry about the show’s infamous ‘curse’ where people in relationships split and end up with their dance partners.

Giovanni and Maura have shocked fans after confirming their split (
Maura Higgins/Instagram)

“Maura is absolutely fine, in the sense that it's not a curse, I'm going to dance with my celeb, and she will be supporting me all the way,” he told Hello! magazine. “Realistically, if you're happy in your relationship there is no reason for the curse. If you're happy with your wife or with your husband, you wouldn't go on Strictly to cheat.

“Maura is beautiful, funny, and she's a very loyal person. We get along very well, we're just enjoying getting to know each other.”

Last month Maura revealed the adorable nickname Giovanni called her during a bowling date they kindly shared with their social media followers.

Watch the video below:

On the scoreboard, Maura was called “Princess”, where Giovanni had shortened his name to ‘Gio’.

The couple’s date night comes after Giovanni and Maura had a romantic getaway together to celebrate Giovanni’s 31st birthday.

The pair pampered themselves at a luxury five-star resort and luxury spa in London, before cracking open a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

Featured Image Credit: Maura Higgins/Instagram

Topics: TV And Film, Love Island, Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity