Former Australian rules football star Brendan Fevola has given a characteristically candid take on his daughter's latest career move, revealing the simple financial logic behind her decision to join the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Australia.
'Bro, Easy Cash!': A Father's Blunt Advice
Speaking on his Fifi, Fev & Nick radio show ahead of the programme's launch next week, the 44-year-old confirmed his eldest daughter Mia, 26, is among the contestants. He recounted the moment she sought his counsel about accepting the jungle-based reality series gig. "She was like, 'Dad, should I do it?', and I'm like, 'Bro, easy cash!'" Fevola said with a laugh, adding his emphatic instruction: "Get in there and get it done!"
The Carlton and Brisbane Lions great, who himself won the show's second season in 2016, stated he is excited for Mia to get paid for her participation. His advice comes amid revelations about the financial realities for contestants on the popular series.
The Reality of Reality TV Pay Deals
This follows a Daily Mail report which indicated that Mia Fevola is likely earning between $40,000 and $60,000 for her stint in the jungle. Despite her substantial online following, insiders suggest she is among the lowest-paid members of this season's cast.
"Social media reach doesn't move the needle for TV advertising," a source stressed. "It's not the bargaining chip people think it is." The report paints a picture of a strained budget, where significant funds are allocated to high-profile hosts like Robert Irwin on multi-million-dollar contracts, leaving less for the contestants themselves.
"With hosts like Robert Irwin on multi-million-dollar contracts, the cast budget gets gutted," a production insider explained. "That's the trade-off."
Pressure and 'Quiet Understanding' Among Cast
Several cast members were reportedly unhappy with their financial deals but felt compelled to accept them due to industry pressure. "There's a quiet understanding," a source revealed. "Say no, and you don't get invited back into the TV world."
Another insider was more stark in their assessment of the conditions, commenting: "Some of them are basically being paid to starve on camera. If the cheque was bigger, the complaints would stop." Network 10 declined to comment when approached by the Daily Mail regarding the pay structure.
For Mia Fevola, this marks another step in her burgeoning television career. She previously appeared on the 22nd season of Dancing With The Stars last year, where she was eliminated during the second semi-final. Her father's pragmatic 'easy cash' endorsement underscores the complex economics of fame in the modern reality TV landscape.
