David Haye has hit back at Adam Thomas following the actor’s claims of being bullied on the set of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa. The boxer, 45, didn’t hold back as he branded Adam ‘weak-willed’ and accused him of ‘playing the victim’ in a fierce response to the actor’s podcast revelations. The dramatic clash between the two campmates reached new heights after Adam opened up about feeling ‘bullied’ by David during their time in Kruger National Park, leading to a fiery confrontation in the I’m A Celeb live final.
In a scathing video posted on social media, David addressed the bullying claims, claiming that Adam had been ‘crying’ and ‘moaning’ on his podcast. “I just listened to the podcast and it was enlightening,” David began. “It’s amazing how I dish out a bit of banter, and the second I throw it back, Adam starts crying and moaning about it. Somehow, he’s managed to turn it around and make himself the victim.”
David was particularly irked by Adam’s comments about being ‘broken’ by him during their time in camp. Adam revealed in his podcast that David had pushed him to his emotional limits, particularly when Adam felt unwell and refused to take part in a trial. “What happened to me in camp was bullying, that’s the fact of it. It was bullying,” Adam claimed.
David’s response was unapologetic as he argued that what Adam described as bullying was simply playful ‘banter’. “People these days are so soft. Everyone’s so damn sensitive. Adam gets a little bit of banter and acts like it’s the end of the world. I’ve had to deal with real stuff, but now we’ve got this ‘victim’ culture,” David continued. “The banter I gave him was light, nothing too harsh. If you can’t take a little banter, maybe you should toughen up. We’ve all had that growing up.”
David then shifted his focus to Adam’s podcast, where he and his brothers discussed their time in the jungle and Adam’s emotional struggles. “They sat there moaning and complaining for an hour. I had to put it on double speed because I couldn’t bear the waffle,” David said. “It’s a joke. The guy has got everything, and yet he’s still complaining.”
Adam’s time in the camp was overshadowed by his tensions with David and his feud with fellow campmate, former footballer Jimmy Bullard. The dramatic dynamics between the three campmates dominated the show, culminating in a chaotic live final where emotions ran high. During the live final, David confronted Adam, questioning whether he deserved to win after allegedly insulting Jimmy during the competition.
Adam, who has previously been open about his struggles with mental health, also explained how David’s actions had left him feeling emotionally vulnerable. “David kept doing it to me, and when I asked him why, he just said, ‘I just wanted to break you,’” Adam revealed. “If that’s not bullying, then I don’t know what is.”
The live final took a turn when David and Adam’s rivalry resurfaced, with David accusing Adam of being ‘a professional victim.’ “I’m not playing the victim, that’s the last thing I want to do,” Adam responded. “But the way I was treated, especially after I couldn’t do a trial because of my health, was wrong. David labeled me a ‘professional victim’ when I was just trying to get through it.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Adam spoke about the aftermath of the incident where he fainted in the camp, which wasn’t aired on TV. According to Adam, David pretended that ITV had informed him about his mental health issues, which made the situation even worse for the actor. “He sat me down and said he was worried about my mental health, but when I confronted him, he admitted he made it all up,” Adam said. “I felt completely manipulated.”
David, on the other hand, has expressed his frustration with the way he was portrayed on the show, claiming that he was deliberately edited to look like the ‘bad guy.’ In response, David revealed he is considering legal action against ITV, accusing the broadcaster of causing “irreparable damage” to his brand. He claims that his portrayal in the show was misleading and has affected his professional opportunities.
“It’s absolutely frustrating,” David stated. “I was made out to be the pantomime villain, and now I’m fighting to clear my name. ITV’s editing was deliberately done to make me look bad, and it’s hurt my reputation.”
According to sources, David is seeking damages from ITV for the impact the show has had on his career, which includes a potential loss of future brand deals and a Netflix project that has since fallen through. He has enlisted a legal team to send a formal letter to ITV, demanding an investigation into the way his appearance was edited.
The controversy surrounding the show’s editing isn’t the only issue David has faced. He was previously accused of making sexist remarks about his girlfriend, Sian Osborne, which further fueled the backlash against him. However, Sian has since defended David, claiming that she understood his comments and didn’t find them offensive.
David’s reputation has also taken a hit due to his remarks about women during his time in the camp. He was widely criticized for making comments about Gemma Collins and for his ‘Ugly Duckling Syndrome’ remarks about women. Despite the backlash, David’s girlfriend Sian stood by him, claiming that his comments were misunderstood and that David meant no harm.
As the fallout from I’m A Celebrity… South Africa continues, it’s clear that the tension between David and Adam is far from over. With David threatening legal action and Adam standing firm in his claims of bullying, fans are left wondering how this explosive feud will play out in the coming weeks.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
