George Calombaris is making a dramatic return to public life by entering the South African jungle for I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! This move represents his most prominent appearance since his spectacular fall from grace, which saw his hospitality empire collapse amid a major underpayment scandal.
A Controversial Figure Seeks a New Platform
The former MasterChef Australia judge will appear as an intruder on the popular reality television show, with insiders suggesting his participation extends far beyond mere television exposure. After years dominated by business failures, legal troubles, and intense public scrutiny, Calombaris views the jungle as an opportunity to finally present his perspective directly to the public.
'In a way, if you want to call it redemption, yeah a little bit of that,' Calombaris revealed in an interview with The Daily Telegraph. The 47-year-old chef's career famously unravelled in 2019 when his MAdE Establishment Group was ordered to repay $7.8 million in staff underpayments and received a $200,000 fine. This scandal affected over 500 workers and led to his departure from MasterChef, transforming him into one of Australia's most polarising culinary figures.
The Personal Toll of Public Scrutiny
Calombaris insists that the reputational damage inflicted upon him was more difficult to endure than the financial consequences. 'The most hurtful part of what I went through was being tagged a thief,' he stated, describing this accusation as fundamentally contradictory to the values his parents instilled in him.
Following the disintegration of his Melbourne-based empire, Calombaris relocated his family to Sydney in 2023. This move coincided with a high-profile business partnership with now-bankrupt pub baron Jon Adgemis, which involved him in several venues including Alpha, the Empire Hotel, and Hotel Diplomat.
However, his final Sydney establishment, Gazi Supper Club in Darlinghurst, closed its doors in December. Industry rumours also suggest his Melbourne restaurant, The Hellenic House Project, may be available for sale. Reflecting on this turbulent period, Calombaris described the personal impact as severe. 'It was horrendous and something I never want my worst enemy to go through,' he confessed.
Seeking Perspective and Setting an Example
Despite these significant setbacks, the Melbourne-born chef maintains he has gained valuable perspective, repeatedly noting that others face circumstances far more challenging than financial ruin. After the underpayment announcement, MasterChef viewers demanded his removal from the Channel 10 programme, while Unions NSW initiated a petition calling for his dismissal.
Now, as he joins twelve contestants already enduring jungle life in South Africa, Calombaris says his primary motivation involves setting a positive example for his children rather than winning over television audiences. While he asserts his life is currently 'in a really good place', the jungle provides a unique platform he has lacked for years – an opportunity to address the prevailing narrative directly, away from courtrooms, boardrooms, and restaurant closures.
The celebrity chef's hospitality group was compelled to backpay all current and former employees who had been underpaid regarding their wages. This jungle appearance marks a significant attempt to reshape public perception and move forward from one of Australia's most notable hospitality scandals.
