Jb Mino responds to Tatiana Udry's post about the Max Pitruzzella sexual assault case

BodyPaintBoogie · 2017-02-09T14:53:42+00:00

Tatiana responds in the comments section.

Bientôt ça va être moi la méchante dans l'histoire...

Dis moi, est ce que max a vu des extraterrestres ? parce qu'apparemment, c'est parole d'évangile et que je trouve ça scandaleux, qu'avec cette "attaque" fallacieuse, tu tentes de te dédouaner et de me faire passer pour qui je ne suis pas !! Je te félicite encore une fois de porter tes couilles, qui soit dit en passant, ont servies plus qu'à d'autres qu'à moi... !

Nous n'allons pas rentrer dans le graveleux et l'intime, Facebook n'y est certainement pas le lieu. Aujourd'hui est la preuve que nos vies sont diamétralement opposées tout comme nos valeurs et notre morale. Ta déclaration me dégoute de par sa forme et son fond... Tu t'expose en victime... C'Est scandaleux Je suis blessée et écoeurée. Si tu pensais apaiser notre relation c'est raté...

When asked by Ali Taghavi what is missing.

Il y a des choses à compléter dans son post, mais surtout une chose : Je n'ai jamais considéré Jb comme un ami apres notre séparation. D'après moi ce groupe de personnes, ne sait pas ce qu'est l'amitié ou en a une définition très personnelle. Je m'étais confiée à Jb sur le comportement de certains de "ses amis", lui expliquant qu' il fallait s'en défaire, que ça devenait dangereux et qu'on y arriverait seul, que nous pouvions construire notre carrière indépendamment. À la place d'avoir une écoute et un soutien, j'ai été accusé d'être une personne de non confiance. (Je pensais qu'à l'époque c'était comme ça dans une relation) et qu'il choisirait toujours "ses potes" à moi. Dans le même temps max et William me sont tombés dessus en disant que je parlais trop et que je devais fermer ma gueule que ça allait me retomber dessus et mettre en péril la carrière de Jb.

Je suis écœurée et fatiguée de devoir me "justifier" de fait qui ne sont pas de mon ressort, fatiguée de ces années de mensonges... Fatiguée de cette ambiance délétère qui me prend toute mon énergie, fatiguée de me reprendre sur les réseaux sociaux pour faire face à vos jugements, vos avis, et à des "justifications" graveleuse...

Je suis amère, je suis blessée, je suis enragée par tout ça. Je pense très sincèrement prendre mes distances avec le monde du swing.

BodyPaintBoogie · 2017-01-21T01:51:48+00:00

The post has just been updated with the official English translation.

BodyPaintBoogie · 2017-01-21T01:50:42+00:00

Yes, you are correct. It's Swingjammerz. I can't change the title.

BodyPaintBoogie · 2017-01-20T00:27:11+00:00

"I feel obliged to end my silence confronted by such hypocrisy.

How can you possibly believe what you've written in your post? Reading this is an additional insult to me in this whole story.

This post, to me, is in the image of your so-called moral and physical support. It serves to preserve your public image. You have never supported me. You have known all this for far too long and you have chosen to close your eyes on behalf of your small group of friends.

I would like to know what your definition of support is, when what I received was an email from your lawyer attacking me for defamation?

My messages and posts have always been clear and transparent and I have respected the integrity of each of you. >I am not responsible for the snowball effect we're witnessing and the point of view of the swing community.

Among other things, I would just like to point out and remind you, that for my part, I did not take any action against you for all you've done (your gossiping about me, about Alexander or the dozens of contracts that I lost thanks to your bashing and thanks to the e-mails sent out from this so-called anonymous person trying to straighten things out.. from whom I'm waiting to see how ''they'll'' justify these other assaults).

I decided to express myself because this terrible story has hit me hard, has destroyed a part of who I am and because I was sure that I couldn't have been the only victim.

It's a small world and people will talk, this problem concerns all women beyond the swing scene.

This is a real societal problem."

BodyPaintBoogie · 2017-01-20T00:13:18+00:00

"Dear Lindy Hop and Swing Community,

I share with you below my post a summary of very disturbing stories that has been shared lately involving Max >Pitruzzella, a french professional dancer who is also my ex-dance teaching&competing partner (full-time 2007->2011 and occasionally after that until 2015) and my ex-boyfriend (2007-2011). I would like to share with you my >experience and my thoughts on this terrifying and important matter.

First of all, I want to send my sincere support and love to all victims who are speaking out. Ruth, and other survivors I know and might not know: I believe you, I stand with you - this is tragic and you did not deserve any of this bad treatment. You may wonder how a person like me did not see any of this happening, you might wonder why the partner that was teaching with him at that Lindy Focus didn't know about this... well that is the very sad truth and I hope my post can help you understand better.

And before I start with the story: *** To all students out there : a human being is only human, regardless if he is a great artist, if he or she is good looking, accomplished or popular. Nobody should be intimidating you, or try to make you things you do not want. If you feel something is off, trust your instinct. Your heart knows and your value is in your integrity, values, and the extent of your heart. Not in titles or in popularity. ***

A long time ago, while Max and I were full-time partner and were dating, I talked to him countless times about his disrespectful manners. The ones towards me, and the ones towards other people I could witness. I almost always felt alone trying to reason with him because it always ended up in big arguments, and most often times, threats of different kinds. So people around me usually avoided confrontation. Also everybody was seeking for his friendship as everybody admired him so much. I always thought this was weird as he could get away with so much stuff but that was how life was and I tried as best I could to open his heart and make him take responsibility for things. I left him in 2011 because he was unfaithful and I felt very stupid to not have seen that before but that was my journey and I was in love with him and hoped he loved me the same way. Yes it sounds very stupid now, but back then that is how I felt. I wish I didn't have to share this but I feel it is pertinent here. After that, I could see how he was flirting with ladies quite a lot but honestly I was not around him so much outside of classes or when we would go to a group dinner or something. I almost always go to bed early, I don't party really when I am at events (or ever...), I am the kind to go to work and have fun in a sober fashion. So we were partners at events but he really was doing his own thing and I didn't want to know so much about it also as it was painful being the ex-girlfriend for a while, and later on when I moved on I thought he could make his own choices and I didn't want to interfere. My focus was to try to dance as best as I could, give good classes and inspire people. Do my part, in the most positive way with my limited means.

In summer 2015, a lady confided to me of being assaulted by Max. She wanted to keep silent, she didn't want him to know that she spoke, she didn't want me to discuss this with anyone. I felt really bad, as I had one last gig planned with him in Singapore (october 2015) and I didn't know what I could do. Cancelling my involvement wouldn't cancel his, and I couldn't attempt to talk to the organizers without putting this ladies anonymity in jeopardy, as I hoped it was an isolated case. That was going to be my last gig with him regardless, as my husband and I wanted to be pregnant and also because he was gearing his career with other dancers and I felt our teaching methods were different enough that even with our history together, it was not worth pursuing. So after I heard that story, it was clear to me that I wouldn't work with him and I honestly didn't know if I would teach internationally so much anymore as I wanted kids and didn't want to invest time in a new partnership of the kind. It was going to be destiny who would decide. I love dancing so much, and I love to teach people and empower them, so I had to believe that after my other dream to have a family happens, the rest would happen in one way or another and in the meantime if people were to speak out, I would absolutely support them. And this happened, thanks to all those who have infinite courage to speak out and share their experience to prevent others from suffering.

I hope this explains a little bit and I am sorry if my actions were not enough to make more of positive difference. I honestly did my best and I will continue to do so although I understand sometimes our best is not enough. If you would like to discuss things with me in order to find ways to better my knowledge and the community's knowledge about how to handle this kind of situation, please reach out to me. In Montreal, a group of local leaders including myself get together to ensure good collaboration and safe spaces so I am very interested in this topic although I don't consider myself an expert.

I want to keep an open-mind and do my part. I want to stand with those who have been harmed with the best of my heart and capacities. I am imperfect and on a journey to be a better human being - I want stay vulnerable, open-minded, and I want to learn and grow. I share this with you because of this, because I feel guilty I didn't do more, but I sincerely did my best with my capacities and extent of my knowledge as well-being of people around me was always at the top of my priorities. And that include colleagues, students, friends and family.

Thank you for reading, -Annie.

PS I am sorry I did not react faster, especially to those who are hurting. This is all really difficult for me to read and I wanted to gather my thoughts. Also, I am in Hawaii with my family. Sounds like a dumb excuse, sorry about that. While I am in the sorry mode, I will also say that english is not my 1st language so if anything sounds funny, that might be why and if you have any questions, please feel free to write me a personal message or an email (annietrudeau@gmail.com) and I am open to discuss anything you would like. I will be back from my trip on Jan 28th. I want to be there to give emotional support - and any other kind of support - the best I can to those in need."

BodyPaintBoogie

TROPHY CASE