I'm a Celebrity: South Africa winner Adam Thomas has spoken for the first time since the show's chaotic live final, revealing a disturbing voice note he received from former boxer David Haye and stating that the experience will haunt him for the rest of his life.
Thomas, 37, was crowned King of the Jungle during Friday night's live final, which descended into chaos as contestant Jimmy Bullard accused him of being 'abusive, aggressive and intimidating' in the jungle. Ant and Dec defended the Emmerdale actor as two stars stormed off set.
In a new episode of his podcast, At Home With The Thomas Bro's, on Wednesday, Thomas opened up about the final. He claimed that Haye, who had previously accused him of being a 'victim' and picked on him in camp, sent him a congratulatory voice note after the show.
'The most disturbing bit for me was where I look at David and even after the show, he sent me a voice note and was like, 'Oh mate, what a great show that was. I'm so happy you won. Congratulations,'' Thomas revealed. 'I just sent him a message back saying, 'This is where I draw the line now. I hope you find happiness bro. I'm done now.''
He added that the live show left him feeling exploited. 'That live show, I just felt like I'd been exploited. I felt like I was in the midst of it all and it wasn't even about me.'
Thomas described Haye's treatment of him in the jungle as 'bullying', despite co-stars Sinitta and Harry Redknapp calling it 'banter'. On his podcast, he said: 'I'll just be outright and say it how it is now. What happened to me in camp is bullying. That is the matter of fact about it. It was bullying. I don't think it's fair to people who are going through what I went through in the real world to pass it off as banter because it's not.'
Thomas also accused Haye of being manipulative, claiming Haye told him that ITV were 'worried' about his mental health and had asked him to stop picking on Thomas, leading Thomas to break down to producers. 'Producers said, 'Adam, we've never once said anything to David about you or your mental health.' I asked David when I got out and he was like, 'Yeah, I made it all up.''
'Like, you really f***ing manipulated the s*** out of me. He got in my head like you wouldn't believe. Not everyone sees that. Not everyone sees the little comments that he makes,' Thomas added, breaking down. 'Why would you want to do that to another human being, bro? And after all I've been through, I still forgive him.'
The Independent has contacted Haye and ITV for comment.
Thomas said he takes full accountability for his outburst at Jimmy Bullard in camp, after Bullard forfeited a challenge costing both of them a place in the competition. In the final, Bullard repeatedly accused Thomas of being 'abusive, aggressive and intimidating' and claimed ITV had edited out 'c-bombs' from the Emmerdale actor.
Thomas later said he'll 'live with everything that's happened from the very start to the very finish' for the rest of his life, adding: 'You could pay me £10m to do that experience all over again and I would say no in a heartbeat because nothing is worth what I went through in there.'
Haye and Bullard were reportedly kicked out of the studio after the final, with a show source telling The Independent: 'Some campmates were uncomfortable being on stage with David and Jimmy, so we sent them home during Unpacked.'
Thomas also left with his family, saying on the podcast: 'ITV wanted me to go and do the ITV2 show and I was like, 'There is no way. I've had enough of this. Imagine me going and doing the ITV2 show and then everyone again just ripping into me and pointing the finger at me.''
While fans wondered if Thomas would appear on ITV's morning programmes, it was confirmed on Good Morning Britain that he would not be doing any further press. Host Richard Madeley revealed that Thomas 'garnered quite a good chunk of the public vote' with over 50 per cent. His co-presenter Susanna Reid then added: 'Adam Thomas. He's not doing interviews.'
