In a heart-wrenching revelation, I’m A Celebrity… South Africa winner Adam Thomas has claimed he was ‘exploited’ by ITV during the show’s dramatic live final. The Waterloo Road star’s experience in the Kruger National Park was marred by explosive rows, accusations of bullying, and a mental health battle that was played out in front of millions. But it was the explosive aftermath of his victory that left Thomas feeling manipulated and broken.
The shocking altercation between Thomas, former footballer Jimmy Bullard, and ex-boxer David Haye nearly derailed the live final, with viewers watching in disbelief as the tensions between the campmates reached boiling point. And, according to Adam, ITV did little to intervene. Instead, he says, the production team turned the entire situation into a spectacle.
Reflecting on the aftermath of the chaotic night on the latest episode of his Thomas Bros Podcast, the actor, 37, expressed his frustration over the manipulation he felt from the network.
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I’m A Celebrity … South Africa winner Adam Thomas says he felt exploited by ITV during the show’s explosive live final on Friday evening
“I think for David and some of the other campmates, it was all just a show,” Adam explained. “It was entertainment for them, but for me, it wasn’t about playing a character. I wasn’t there for anyone else’s agenda. I wanted to have a laugh, enjoy the experience, and just be myself.”
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His unveiling as the show’s winner during a live instalment ended in chaos as Jimmy Bullard and David Haye reignited their feud with Thomas in front of a stunned studio audience
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The actor broke down while reflecting on his time in the jungle during the latest instalment of his Thomas Bros podcast
The tearful winner said the live finale, where his victory was overshadowed by a cruel public feud with Haye and Bullard, left him feeling ‘exploited.’ “I felt like I was in the middle of all this chaos, and it wasn’t even about me,” Adam admitted. “I was just another piece of drama for them to sell.”
‘This Wasn’t Just Banter, It Was BULLYING!’
Adam has been open about his struggles with mental health, and the constant verbal attacks from Haye pushed him to the edge. He openly described the ex-boxer’s behavior as bullying and claimed that Haye’s words targeted his mental state in the cruelest way.
“What happened to me in camp was bullying,” Adam declared. “That’s the fact. And I don’t think it’s fair for people to brush it off as ‘banter,’ because it’s not. It messed with my head.”
The actor continued, “I can see how it might look like just banter to some people, but I’m telling you my truth – it was bullying. And when I got out, I spoke to David and asked him why he did it. He told me, ‘I’ve never met a nicer guy, I just wanted to break you.’”
Adam went on to reveal the shocking truth behind the mind games played by Haye during their time in camp.
“I asked him, ‘Why did you keep doing this to me?’ and he just said, ‘I wanted to break you.’ That’s not just a joke. That’s manipulation,” Adam said, his voice shaking with emotion. “He knew exactly what he was doing. It was mind games, pure and simple. I laughed it off at the time, because that’s what everyone else told me to do – ‘Oh, it’s just banter.’ But it wasn’t. It was manipulation.”
‘He Got Inside My Head’ – Adam Thomas Reflects on Emotional Struggles
What Adam described as an emotional ‘mind game’ left him vulnerable and raw in ways viewers couldn’t see. He revealed that Haye exploited his fragile mental state, even going so far as to fabricate a conversation about his mental health with ITV producers.
“The worst part was when David told me that ITV had informed him about my mental health issues after I fainted in camp. He made it seem like the producers had shared everything with him,” Adam recounted. “But when I spoke to the crew after I got out, they told me they hadn’t said anything to him. He made the whole thing up.”
Adam’s breakdown was evident during the Thomas Bros Podcast as he recalled how Haye’s actions affected him long after leaving the camp. “He took my energy, my light, and twisted it. And it’s like a gift, what he did. He mind-f***** me,” Adam said.
The actor has since distanced himself from the former boxer, sending a final message to Haye: “I’m done now. I hope you find happiness, but I’m done with this.”
The Real Cost of Reality TV?
While the chaos from the live final and subsequent bullying controversy have garnered widespread attention, Adam Thomas’ heart-wrenching story raises serious questions about the price of reality TV. Was the I’m A Celeb experience truly about the contestants, or was it just a vehicle for drama at their emotional expense?
In the cutthroat world of reality TV, Adam Thomas’ claims have sparked a fierce debate over exploitation, mental health, and the true cost of fame. With ITV under scrutiny, fans and critics alike are left to wonder: When is entertainment going too far?
The aftermath of Adam’s journey through I’m A Celeb continues to unfold, but one thing is clear — the line between reality and manipulation has never seemed so blurry.
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