I’m A Celeb South Africa hosts Ant and Dec have made rare comments about David Haye’s behaviour on the show, following emotional revelations from Made in Chelsea star Adam Thomas. Adam, who has been part of the ongoing I’m A Celeb series, opened up about his personal struggles during filming, claiming that David’s relentless behaviour pushed him to his limits and left him “broken.”
In a candid Instagram post shared on Sunday, Adam, 37, shared how David’s remarks and actions in the camp severely impacted him. The actor described feeling emotionally and mentally exhausted as he clashed with David on multiple occasions throughout the series. The fallout from these arguments was not just about the conflict between them but also about Adam’s health struggles, as he battles autoimmune psoriatic arthritis.
The conflict between Adam and David reached a boiling point during the filming of the reality series. Ant and Dec, in a rare podcast appearance for I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked, didn’t hold back in their criticism of David’s behaviour. “It’s not a nice watch. He just kind of picks and picks at them,” Ant explained. “Adam has had a bit of a tough time, and he’s clearly not coping well. The banter has got too much, but David won’t stop.”
Dec agreed, adding, “It’s kind of crossed the line from banter. I don’t find it comfortable to watch.”
Adam Thomas Opens Up About the Struggles
Adam’s emotional post revealed that he had taken time to reflect on his experiences in the camp and is now in a much better place. “Since coming out, I’ve taken time to process everything, and I’m in a much better place now. I let go of the anger, had the conversations I needed to have, and chose peace,” Adam wrote.
In the post, Adam admitted he struggled to keep a brave face while dealing with intense pain and emotional stress, and he gave insight into the toll that the situation had taken on him. “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 gave up! And that means everything to me,” he added. “He broke me in there, he pushed me to my limits, and I’ve told David this and he’s apologised. That’s that. I’ve moved on now.”
Although the two men have since reconciled, Adam’s post reflects how deep the emotional scars from this experience ran, further amplified by his ongoing health struggles.
David Haye and Adam’s Clash Over Smuggled Chocolate
The conflict between Adam and David wasn’t just confined to verbal altercations. One notable incident occurred when Adam secretly smuggled chocolate bars into the camp, which led to significant tension. The punishment for Adam’s actions was severe—two stars were knocked off their food portion, leaving the team with just five stars worth of food for the night.
David’s reaction to Adam’s transgression was harsh and led to a heated exchange in camp. “His portion should be a little bit smaller than everyone else’s actually,” David remarked, sparking further protests from Adam’s campmates, including Beverley Callard and Jimmy Bullard.
Adam, feeling the pressure, attempted to confront David in a calmer moment. “It’s safe to say that David wasn’t happy and he’s blaming me right,” Adam shared in the Bush Telegraph. “He just doesn’t stop going on about it, right? Like, ‘Alright, okay, let it go now,’ and he still keeps going and going, to a point where I’m like, I don’t know whether it’s banter or whether he actually believes it.”
The situation escalated, and Adam decided to confront David directly, calling him outside. David responded irritably, “We got a lot less than we would have had,” referencing their reduced food portion due to Adam’s actions. But before the argument could intensify further, Scarlett Moffatt intervened, ending the row and diffusing the tension.
Adam Reflects on His Health Struggles
Amidst the tension in camp, Adam’s struggle with autoimmune psoriatic arthritis was weighing heavily on him. He spoke candidly about how the illness took a toll on his body during his time in the jungle, with some moments being incredibly difficult to endure.
“My arthritis really took its toll,” Adam said. “Living with arthritis is something I don’t really talk about, as much as I should do, but in there it really took its toll.”
The actor went on to explain how the pain made his time on the show even more challenging. “My biggest fight was pretending to put on a brave face and trying to hide the pain! That can be exhausting within itself. There were days my body just didn’t want to keep going, but I did.”
Despite the emotional and physical hardships, Adam’s determination to push through was evident. “I won’t sit here and say I handled everything perfectly, because I didn’t. I wish I spoke up for myself sooner. I wish I stood my ground instead of trying to keep the peace, but I’ve learned that being kind doesn’t mean being weak, and sometimes it takes going through tough moments to find your voice.”
A New Chapter for Adam
After everything he endured, Adam Thomas has emerged stronger, now in a much better place mentally and emotionally. “Thank you for all your lovely messages and kind words,” he shared. “I’m not one to hold a grudge, and I’ve moved on. What I’m most proud of is not giving up, even when it was hard.”
Adam’s resilience and courage throughout his I’m A Celeb South Africa journey are an inspiration to fans everywhere. He has learned that, sometimes, the toughest battles lead to the greatest growth.
As for his relationship with David, Adam has shared that they’ve talked and that David has apologized for his actions during filming. “We’ve both moved on now,” Adam concluded, showing his strength and maturity in accepting the apology and putting the past behind him.
Ant and Dec Speak Out on David’s Behaviour
In a rare moment, hosts Ant and Dec have joined in the conversation, offering their take on David’s behaviour on the show. While some viewers may have considered David’s actions as playful banter, Ant and Dec have expressed that they felt the tone had crossed the line. “It’s not a nice watch,” Ant remarked, referring to David’s treatment of his fellow campmates. “He just kind of picks and picks at them.”
Dec echoed these sentiments, stating, “It’s kind of crossed the line from banter. I don’t find it comfortable to watch.”
Their comments serve as a reminder that while reality television often blurs the line between entertainment and real emotion, the impact of such behaviour on participants can be very real.
