During Friday night’s (17 April) episode of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! South Africa, viewers were left in shock by David Haye.
The former boxer criticised actor Adam Thomas for opting out of a Bushtucker Trial because he was ‘not feeling well’.
Haye has had a number of controversial moments on the All Stars edition of the ITV show, having previously made comments about ‘ugly birds’.
And even hosts Ant and Dec admitted they found it ‘uncomfortable’ to watch as they said the ‘banter has got too much’.
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Thomas has since taken to social media to say his campmate ‘broke’ him in the camp and that it ‘hasn’t been easy’ to watch back.
His other co-stars and celebrities have spoken out in support as former I’m A Celeb star Carol Vorderman branded Haye’s comments as ‘bullying’.
Thomas had told the camp that he was not feeling on ‘top form’ as the boxer responded: “When is your top form going to come? Why aren’t we forcing this dude to go and do [the trial]? Every time there’s something to do, he’s not feeling well.”
In an Instagram post, the actor explained how having psoriatic arthritis really ‘took its toll’ while on the show as he found it ‘exhausting’ to ‘pretend to put on a brave face’ and hide the pain.
The 37-year-old spoke out about his diagnosis in 2023. The long-term condition causes joint pain, swelling and stiffness as well as 'feeling drained of energy', according to the NHS.
“There were days my body just didn’t want to keep going, but I did,” Thomas wrote on Instagram as he shared a picture from the show that ‘breaks my heart’.
“I know on the inside what I was dealing with and truth be told I thought it was all my fault.”
He wrote that he wishes he had ‘spoke up’ for himself sooner and ‘stood my ground’ but has since processed everything and is in a ‘much better place now’.
“I let go of the anger, had the conversations I needed to have, and chose peace. What I’m most proud of, is at times like this I wanted to walk, I wanted to quit but I didn’t. Even when I wanted to walk away, even when it felt like too much, I never give up! and that means everything to me,” Thomas continued.
“He broke me in there, he pushed me to my limits, and I’ve told David this and he’s apologised and that’s that! I’ve moved on now, am not one to hold a grudge.”
Thomas later reposted an Instagram Story from his twin brother Scott, who said watching it 'makes my blood boil'.
His campmate, Scarlett Moffatt, commented to say: “Awwww Adam I bloody love you. You’re one of the kindest men I know.
“If my little boy ends up being as caring as you then I know I’ll have done a good job a mam. Lots of love.”
Meanwhile Vorderman, who revealed she had been diagnosed with arthritis in 2025, said: “Adam … I love you. We’ve spoken about arthritis and it’s so hard to describe the all consuming pain and exhaustion it gives you to someone who hasn’t had it.”
She joked that after witnessing Haye criticise Thomas she wanted to ‘knock him out’, adding: “YOU have the biggest heart Adam and at the end of all of this YOU are the man any of us would be proud to call a son, husband, brother or most of all a father.”
Speaking on This Morning today, fellow 2026 star Ashley Roberts addressed the altercation as she said: “Adam was not feeling well in there. He’s feeling quite ill, and David Haye just kept pushing and pushing.
“At first, you think it’s lads’ banter, but then it just went a bit too far. It was uncomfortable at times. Some of us girls actually went out outside of camp and just took a moment to just breathe together.
“But you know, bless them, it was tough in there.”
LADbible Group has contacted representatives for Haye for comment.
Topics: Carol Vorderman, ITV, Im A Celebrity, TV and Film
Jess Battison