Viewers tuning into the 2026 edition of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! South Africa have been treated to what many are calling the best series in years. With a star-studded cast—Gemma Collins, Scarlett Moffatt, Harry Redknapp, David Haye, Ashley Roberts, and more—the show has delivered a potent mix of drama, laughter, and jaw-dropping twists that have left both the campmates and the audience reeling.
But beneath the surface of super-sized trials and cheeky pranks, a storm has been brewing. The controversy centers on former professional boxer David Haye, whose confrontational behavior and controversial comments have sparked heated debates both inside the camp and among viewers at home. The situation reached a boiling point during the episode aired on April 17, 2026, when Haye publicly clashed with actor Adam Thomas over Thomas’s reluctance to take part in a Bushtucker Trial due to his autoimmune illness, psoriatic arthritis.
According to heat and Closer online, Haye lashed out at Thomas, saying, “Who gives a s**t if he doesn’t feel well. He’s a grown-ass man. I don’t like guys who are… a bit useless. I hate them useless guys.” The remarks, which many viewers found deeply uncomfortable, were echoed by the show’s long-time hosts, Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. During an appearance on the show’s official podcast, I’m A Celebrity… Unpacked, Ant reflected, “It’s not a nice watch. He just kind of picks and picks at them. Adam has had a bit of a tough time and he’s not coping well. Clearly the banter has got too much. But David won’t stop.” Dec added, “It’s kind of crossed the line from banter. I don’t find it comfortable to watch.”
The fallout from Haye’s comments didn’t stop at the campfire. Adam Thomas took to Instagram to share his side of the story, admitting, “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 added, “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.”
Yet, the drama didn’t end with the apology. Haye’s behavior drew further scrutiny when fellow campmate Ashley Roberts, best known as a member of the Pussycat Dolls, revealed that she had confronted Haye over his language and conduct—though the exchange never aired. Appearing on ITV’s This Morning on April 20, 2026, Roberts told hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, “Now there are points where I did confront him because I thought some of his language was quite shocking. But I don’t know if that’s going to make the edit or not. You know, we all tried to plant seeds in different ways of thinking or trying to understand where he was coming from. But it was shocking.”
Roberts’s remarks followed another round of controversy when Haye made disparaging comments about his girlfriend Sian and about women’s personalities and attractiveness. As reported by The Mirror, Haye said, “Most ugly girls realise they’re not pretty enough, so they’ve got to have a personality—to banter and tell jokes—so people overlook the fact they’re not aesthetically amazing. That’s what’s called Ugly Duckling syndrome, where girls start off ugly and then become more attractive as they get older, but still have the personality from when they weren’t. Most super pretty girls don’t have to have a personality, because they’re attractive. But their less attractive friends have to work harder, be more personable and nicer to everyone.”
Roberts, clearly taken aback, addressed the issue on Heart Radio Breakfast, saying, “He’s not coming across well, is he? His language is outrageous, I’ll tell you that much. I don’t remember that side of him when we were together 14 years ago. I don’t remember thinking, ‘What just came out of your mouth?’” She went on to recall their previous stint together on the show, noting that Haye’s current behavior was a stark contrast to her earlier impressions.
As if the camp wasn’t already tense enough, Ant and Dec threw another curveball on April 20, 2026, announcing a double elimination twist ahead of the live final set for April 24. According to The Mirror, the twist required contestants to save each other in a chain, with Ashley Roberts earning immunity after winning a trial and kicking off the process. The revelation that two celebrities would leave the camp sent shockwaves through the group, dramatically altering the dynamics and leaving everyone on edge.
The first to fall victim to the twist was comedian Seann Walsh. After Harry Redknapp lost a task and was forced to evict a member of his team, Redknapp tried to volunteer himself. However, producers insisted he must choose someone else. Redknapp, clearly distressed, explained, “Now we have only been there two days. So I think, ‘No please, I don’t want to do that. I’ll go home’ and they said, ‘No you can’t do that. You’re the king. You’ve got to vote out one of your subjects and send them home. That is the rule.’” In a moment of confusion, Redknapp accidentally called Seann “Stewart” while announcing his decision, a slip that Walsh took in stride, responding, “Oh fair enough. That’s absolutely fair enough.”
All the while, the camp continued to grapple with the fallout from Haye’s comments. The boxer’s remarks about Adam Thomas, his girlfriend, and women in general sparked a broader conversation about respect, boundaries, and the line between banter and bullying. While Haye did apologize to Thomas and some campmates attempted to address his behavior privately, the controversy has left a lasting impression on this season’s narrative.
With the live final looming, fans and contestants alike are left to wonder what further surprises are in store—and whether the camp can recover from the turbulence that has defined this all-star edition. One thing’s for sure: I’m A Celebrity... South Africa has given audiences plenty to talk about, both for its entertainment value and its unflinching look at the complexities of group dynamics under pressure.