Italian television personality Martina Miliddi has addressed her recent performance on the popular game show Affari Tuoi, offering an apology following what she described as a “disastrous” dance segment with Herbert Ballerina. The incident occurred during an episode recorded on January 14, 2026, and aired shortly after, drawing mixed reactions from the studio audience and viewers at home.
Miliddi, who joined the show as a replacement for Herbert Ballerina’s usual dance partner, took to social media after the broadcast to express regret over her performance. In a now-deleted Instagram story, she wrote that the routine had gone “always worse” and acknowledged feeling embarrassed by the outcome. Despite her self-criticism, the live studio audience responded with sustained applause during and after the performance, creating a contrasting atmosphere of support versus personal disappointment.
The dance in question was part of a recurring comedic sketch on Affari Tuoi involving Ballerina, a puppet-like character portrayed through pre-recorded voiceovers and a cardboard cutout when the performer is absent. According to the January 19, 2026, episode hosted by Stefano De Martino, Ballerina was temporarily replaced by a cutout bearing the message “back soon,” with De Martino joking that the real Herbert was “fine and will return,” last seen at Rome Termini station wearing a gray cashmere coat.
During the January 14 episode, Ballerina’s signature gag — a recorded voice line about cooking soups for the government and making minestrone — was played as usual, maintaining continuity in the sketch despite the physical absence of the usual performer. Miliddi entered the stage after contestants opened the “Dancer Package,” a special segment trigger that brings in a guest dancer to partner with the Ballerina character.
Miliddi, born in Cagliari on July 21, 2000, is 25 years old and rose to prominence through her participation in the 2020 season of Amici di Maria De Filippi, where she specialized in Latin dance. Although eliminated in the fifth episode, she went on to perform with various television dance troupes and appeared in Viva Rai2 under Rosario Fiorello. Her recent credits include a cameo in the Checco Zalone film Buen Camino, where she danced in the music video for the song “Prostata enflamada,” which played during the film’s closing credits.
Regarding her personal life, Miliddi has remained private. Following a past relationship with singer Aka7Even during her time on Amici and a subsequent romance with Raffaele Renda, she has been linked to dancer and choreographer Simone Milani, known professionally as “Spillo,” though neither party has publicly confirmed the relationship.
The February 1, 2026, Instagram reel titled #affarituoi #stefanodemartino featured behind-the-scenes footage of Miliddi and Ballerina interacting during a break in filming, showing lighthearted moments between the two despite the earlier performance critique. A YouTube video published on February 13, 2026, discussed their purported Valentine’s Day plans, though no official confirmation of such plans has been issued by either party or the show’s producers.
As of now, neither Rai nor the production team behind Affari Tuoi has released an official statement regarding Miliddi’s apology or the audience reaction to the January 14 episode. Stefano De Martino continues to host the show, which airs in the pre-access prime time slot on Rai 1.
For ongoing updates on Affari Tuoi and related Italian television developments, viewers are encouraged to consult the official Rai website or the network’s verified social media channels.
We welcome your thoughts on this story. Share your perspective in the comments below and help preserve the conversation going.