David Haye is reportedly preparing to sue ITV for as much as £10 million, according to recent claims. The former professional boxer has allegedly instructed a legal team, asserting that the editing of I'm A Celebrity... South Africa has inflicted 'irreparable damage to his brand'.
Legal Action Over Editing
Sources indicate that Haye's lawyers have dispatched a letter to ITV, the broadcaster of the programme, demanding an inquiry into how the final edit was determined. Although the I'm A Celeb spin-off was pre-recorded, the 45-year-old faced significant backlash after making several sexist remarks.
In one particular scene, Haye called co-star and eventual winner Adam Thomas 'useless' after the Waterloo Road actor explained he was too unwell to participate in a trial. Adam suffers from psoriatic arthritis, a condition causing joint inflammation and stiffness. When this was clarified, Haye responded that he didn't 'give a s**t'.
Sexist Comments and Backlash
Haye also made sexist comments that left his campmates astonished. Referring to his girlfriend Sian, a model, he said: 'She's like tall, blue eyes. She’s lovely. She's got the personality of a proper ugly bird.' He added that 'ugly girls' need to possess 'a personality and banter' to compensate for 'the fact that they're not aesthetically amazing'.
An insider told The Sun: 'David is absolutely gung-ho about all of this — he is incandescent with rage about how the whole series has been handled and feels he's being made a scapegoat by ITV.' The source further claimed that Haye believes he was deliberately edited to appear aggressive, and that he is 'none of those' things. Since the show aired, he has been subjected to online trolling.
Fat-Shaming Allegations
Another controversial moment involved a comment about Gemma Collins. The reality star mentioned that her hair was thick, to which Haye replied: 'It definitely ain't thin.' He reportedly believes this was a result of 'clever editing'. His legal team is expected to scrutinise the entire series for further examples.
'He is going for damages as a result of the 'propaganda' aired against him to recover lost earnings, which lawyers believe could total up to £10 million,' the source claimed. It is alleged that discussions with Netflix about a show and other brand deals have been halted due to the scandal.
Other Contestants Considering Legal Action
Haye is not the only participant seeking legal counsel. Former footballer Jimmy Bullard is also reportedly contemplating legal action against the show, believing he was 'stitched up' by ITV in the final edit. During his feud with Adam Thomas, ITV allegedly did not air a clip where Adam called Jimmy a 'c***'. Host Ant McPartlin later stated on air that the scene was unsuitable for broadcasting.
'He wanted everyone to see the shocking unedited version of the fight,' a source claimed. Bullard was said to be 'hugely disappointed' with hosts Ant and Dec, and also with Gemma Collins for siding with Adam, despite not being present during their initial clash.
'He is talking to lawyers and looking into his ITV contract to see what grounds there are to sue,' the source added.
The Mirror has contacted representatives for Haye and ITV for comment.
