David Haye's Emotional Trial Loss Met with Surprising Gemma Collins Comfort on I'm A Celebrity
Former heavyweight boxing champion David Haye experienced a rare moment of vulnerability on Tuesday's episode of I'm A Celebrity... South Africa, admitting there were "a few tears" after losing a challenging trial. The 45-year-old athlete, competing alongside Pussycat Dolls singer Ashley Roberts for the Red team, faced off against actor Adam Thomas and Coronation Street star Craig Charles in the Wicked Watering Hole challenge.
Fans Left Baffled by Collins' Kindness Following Haye's Insults
After the Red team's defeat, Haye confessed the loss would "eat him up for a while," stating: "It's gonna eat me up for a while. They tried to get under my skin, and they have; that's what they should do, and I expect nothing less. I don't like losing any rounds." In a surprising twist, Gemma Collins—a member of the opposing Green team—crossed camp boundaries to console him, greeting him with "Hello sweetheart" before offering supportive words.
Collins told Haye: "You're not a loser, David. Don't be hard on yourself, tomorrow is another day, dust it off, you're always a champ, you know that. Love ya. Come on, it's not the end of the world." She then hugged her co-star before returning to her team, later reflecting in the Bush Telegraph: "Obviously, there's been a bit of banter between us. I've seen a different side to David."
Viewer Outrage Erupts Over Perceived Hypocrisy and Rule-Breaking
This compassionate gesture left fans utterly confused and enraged, particularly given Haye's derogatory comments about Collins earlier in the week. Viewers took to social media platform X to express their disbelief:
- One user wrote: "Gemma is being nice to him even though he’s been an absolute c*** to her! She’s better than me!"
- Another commented: "I wouldn’t care, Gemma. David needs to be knocked down a peg or two."
- A third viewer noted: "They were warned not to mingle, I hope they get punished for that!"
- While a fourth admitted: "Gemma I’ve never been a fan of but how sweet was she with David tonight!"
Haye's Controversial Remarks About Women and Weight Spark Backlash
The controversy stems from Haye's earlier comments during a camp discussion about post-show celebrations. When suggesting his girlfriend Sian could cook for a potential party, Haye described her as "tall, blue eyes" before adding: "She's got the personality of a proper ugly bird." Despite co-star Scarlett Moffatt's protest that "You can’t say that," Haye doubled down with an explanation about "Ugly Duckling syndrome."
He elaborated: "Most ugly girls realise they don't they're not pretty enough to… they gotta have a personality to banter and to tell jokes and s**t, so people overlook the fact that they're not aesthetically amazing, straight away." Later, when Collins mentioned her thick hair, Haye quipped: "It certainly ain't thin," in what viewers interpreted as a weight-related jab.
The dramatic shift from insult to comfort has created one of the most talked-about moments of the series, highlighting the complex dynamics between reality TV contestants and provoking intense debate among the show's dedicated audience about forgiveness, boundaries, and appropriate behavior in the jungle camp.
