Singer Sinitta has launched a scathing attack on ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, accusing the show of 'editing' her row with fellow contestant Gemma Collins. The 62-year-old star insists the clash was manipulated to appear more hostile than it was, following what she describes as 'genuinely nasty' backlash from viewers.
Clash Over Chicago Role Sparks Outrage
The controversy erupted during Thursday night's episode of the All Stars series, filmed in Kruger National Park last year. Sinitta and Gemma Collins, 45, were seen at odds after Gemma moved from the basic camp, Savannah Scrubs, to join the main camp. Their conversation turned to the musical Chicago, where both had been cast as matron Mama Morton.
Gemma was originally set to play the role in 2022 but withdrew due to a 'terrible injury'. Sinitta was seen branding Gemma 'a joke', commenting: 'We were like "is this like a joke announcement?" You don’t do anything, but you make a great entrance! You make everybody laugh, but I didn’t know you could actually sing and dance.'
Gemma hit back: 'I don’t think you’d get casted as Mama Morton in Chicago if you didn’t pass the audition,' later adding: 'I am NOT a joke. I was taken aback. It was just a bit weird.'
Sinitta's Social Media Defence
Viewers quickly took to social media to criticise Sinitta's remarks, but the So Macho singer has vehemently defended herself. In a lengthy social media post, she claimed the show 'edited out us speaking amicably' and distorted the context of their conversation.
Sinitta wrote: 'Goodness! I know none of you have ever heard of me before because you are young, if you did you would know I’m a very kind person who would never be horrible to Gemma Collins or anyone else.'
She explained: 'We actually bonded over discussing Chicago, I didn’t call her a joke, I said I thought the announcement was a joke at the time as I had not been aware that she sang and danced etc. There was lots of gossip about it in Theatreland when she didn’t do the show. Me and Brenda Edwards had to step in and play the role again.'
Sinitta emphasised that the editing omitted friendly exchanges, including Gemma calling them '2 Mama Morton's'. She concluded: 'You are all being genuinely nasty here, because you love her, I get it. But I gave her a chance to tell her side from the horses mouth!'
History of Tensions Between the Pair
This is not the first dispute between Gemma and Sinitta during the show. According to reports, Gemma previously accused Sinitta of leaking stories from the cast WhatsApp chat. Sinitta dismissed the allegation, stating: 'I’ve been accused of being the rat who’s been selling the WhatsApp stories... the only rat amongst us were those in the jungle.'
She added a pointed remark: 'Gemma might be suffering a little hallucinogenically from all the, er, animal scrotums.'
Gemma's Revenge Involving Simon Cowell
In the episode airing on April 10, Gemma got her own back with a stinging swipe at Sinitta's long-term on-and-off relationship with music mogul Simon Cowell. As the campmates discussed their lack of phone access, Gemma remarked that she now understands why Simon, 66, doesn't have a mobile phone.
When fellow contestant Sir Mo Farah asked if this was true, Gemma revealed: 'Sinitta tries to call him and she's got to go through two PAs, housekeepers just to get a message to him.' Sinitta responded: 'And then he'll call you', to which Gemma retorted: 'As and when he fancies.'
Gemma later reflected in the Bush Telegraph: 'She was in an on and off relationship with him for over 40 years and when Sinitta rings he replies and says "I'll call you tomorrow Sinitta". I mean, if someone did that to me, they'd be blocked, scrubbed off the Christmas card list and yeah, I ain't waiting around for no man to call me back.'
Other Camp Tensions and Fan Reactions
Meanwhile, former I'm A Celebrity campmate Jordan Banjo has criticised boxer David Haye for being 'too competitive' on the show. David, 45, who first appeared in 2012, has been dubbed the 'camp villain' this series for decisions like sending Beverley Callard to basic camp over Scarlett Moffatt and denying Gemma water during an eating trial.
Jordan commented: 'There are tensions rising in camp already and it does seem to be that the architect of this... and doesn't seem to be doing it on purpose, but it's David Haye. I don't know if he's trying to find a new opponent in there.'
He added: 'I'm like, mate, you're not fighting right now! This is the GC you're talking about, give her a bit of leeway, mate!'
Unlike the regular show, I'm A Celebrity... South Africa has been almost entirely pre-recorded, with filming completed last year. Viewers cannot vote for trials or eliminations, but will have a say in the live final scheduled in London later this month. The show continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
