Gemma Collins has addressed the Adam Thomas ‘bullying’ row, saying she wasn’t afraid to ‘protect’ the actor against David Haye on I’m A Celeb South Africa.
All three famous faces are part of the ITV show’s All Star South Africa spin-off, which was filmed in September 2025.
Adam, 37, and David, 45, butted heads last week as the Waterloo Road actor broke camp rules – and again when Adam felt unwell and didn’t wish to take on a trial with the former boxer branding him ‘useless’.
Now Gemma has shared a clip on Instagram of the moment David called him out for not wanting to do the trial.
She penned alongside the TV moment: ‘We must protect my lovely friend @adamthomas21 at all costs! NEVER BE AFRAID TO PROTECT YOUR BESTIE @imacelebrity.
‘Loyalty isn’t loud, it’s solid. It’s showing up, backing them in rooms they’re not in, and keeping their name sparkling clean like a diamond under pressure.
‘Because a real one doesn’t just stand beside you… they stand for you.’
Gemma Collins has addressing the Adam Thomas ‘bullying’ row as she says she wasn’t afraid to ‘protect’ the actor against David Haye on I’m A Celeb South Africa
Adam, 37, and David, 45, butted heads last week as the Waterloo Road actor broke camp rules – and again when Adam felt unwell and didn’t wish to take on a trial
Gemma, 45, also made an appearance on I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked alongside fellow guest Carol Vorderman and host Sam Thompson this week where she took a swipe at David.
Talk soon turned to the former heavyweight champion, with former TOWIE star Gemma hitting out against his boxing career, saying: ‘David used to lose a lot.
‘That concerns me. I’ve got to say, there was a moment in there when I thought ‘How is he a heavyweight champion? Bless you David, and you keep losing, hun.’
‘Do you know what I mean. I think maybe that got to him. But again, that just shows you we’re all human.’
In addition, Gemma addressed the clash between Adam and David – which had been branded as ‘bullying’ by viewers.
Previous scenes saw Adam feeling unwell, but David responded he was acting ‘useless’ and expressed he didn’t like men who acted like that.
David made this remark within Adam’s earshot, as well as other members of the camp.
Gemma said of this: ‘I think David Haye might have seen a weakness in Adam. There was times where I had to protect Adam in there.
‘If I was going full GC mode on David Haye, and a lot of them, then it would’ve been a disaster in there but I had to remain calm and composed and just remember that I’m not here to be performative. I am here as me.
‘And I think the fact that I stretched my arms out, I’m sort of saying to ’em all, without biting their heads off, ‘enough’.’
She continued: ‘Well, basically, I knew if it was ever gonna get too bad I would be taking David on.
‘You know, bring on the next heavyweight champion fighting the world. Because if I feel that something’s too much, I’m not afraid to step up.’
In response to Adam saying he didn’t feel well and didn’t want to participate in the upcoming trial, David said: Who gives a s***’.
Beverley Callard confronted David, imploring him to have ‘sympathy and empathy’ for his campmate.
Now Gemma has shared a clip on Instagram of the moment David called him out for not wanting to do the trial. She wrote a caption alongside it
Previous scenes saw Adam feeling unwell, but David responded he was acting ‘useless’ and expressed he didn’t like men who acted like that
He replied: ‘He’s a grown ass man. I don’t like guys when they’re a bit useless. There it is.’
Writing online, one viewer reacted: ‘David really needs to go – that was not banter, that was bullying. I’m sorry but it was. Don’t like it.’
Another commented: ‘David Haye, what a bully. Times like this he should be chucked out for being a d***head.’
A third chimed in: ‘How has David not been removed for bullying yet?’
Earlier in the series, David was branded a ‘misogynist’ after he bragged about dating a ‘lovely’ woman ‘with the personality of a proper ugly bird’.
David went on to clarify that he meant that less attractive women have better personalities because their ‘banter and jokes’ distract from their appearance.
The former boxing champion was discussing his girlfriend Sian Osborne with Scarlett Moffatt and Ashley, who looked horrified by his admission.
Viewers also hit out at David for ‘fat shaming’ Gemma, as well as for sending Beverley to the inferior Savannah Scrub camp at the start of the series.
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
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