Former world champion boxer David Haye has unleashed another scathing verbal assault on his I'm A Celebrity co-star Adam Thomas, branding the actor "weak" and likening him to a "chihuahua" in a provocative new interview. The 45-year-old pugilist and the 37-year-old Waterloo Road star endured a notoriously fractious relationship during their time together in the South African jungle, filmed in September last year.
Haye's Controversial Comments Spark Fresh Outrage
David Haye has faced repeated accusations of bullying following a series of on-screen swipes directed at Adam Thomas during the reality show. In one particularly contentious incident, Haye labelled Thomas "useless" after the actor excused himself from a trial due to health concerns. Now, in a fresh interview with The Sun, Haye has doubled down on his criticism, dismissing Thomas's need for therapy and questioning his resilience.
"Adam's like a kind of chihuahua," Haye declared. "I'm more of a doberman or a pit bull or something. He's the chihuahua. He doesn't need therapy. He needs to do some push-ups, he needs to get out there and get in amongst other males who are powerful."
Haye further defended his behaviour, stating: "I don't think it's bullying. If a few comments breaks him, how soft is he? How weak, how brittle-spirited is he?"
Adam Thomas's Emotional Response and Therapy Revelation
Adam Thomas, who suffers from the autoimmune condition psoriatic arthritis, has revealed he is now receiving therapy following the intense jungle experience and his clashes with Haye. Speaking emotionally on the At Home With The Thomas Bros podcast, the former Emmerdale actor broke down in tears as he described the psychological impact.
"It was like being back in school again," Thomas confessed. "And although it wasn't physical bullying or anything like that, and I'm not saying it's bullying, but he was just mind f***ing me. I just never stuck up for myself whilst I was in there and I was like 's**t bro, I wish I stuck up for myself'. That was beating me up more than anything."
Thomas elaborated on his mental state, revealing: "I'm in therapy now because, like it's f***ed with me mentally because I just thought, 'How is this happening? I'm a 37-year-old man'. I'm like, 'How am I letting some other person do this to me in here?'"
Haye's Dismissive Stance on Thomas's Health Condition
Despite Thomas's well-documented struggles with psoriatic arthritis, which caused significant fatigue and dehydration during filming, Haye remained unapologetic about his comments. "I didn't know about it, but I couldn't care less," the boxer stated bluntly. "Everyone's got something. Adam was jumping around, dancing. I think whatever the trial was, he didn't like the sound of it, so he's lying in bed, so I gave him some s*** about that."
Haye also took aim at Thomas's social media presence, criticising TikTok videos featuring Adam and his brothers Scott and Ryan as "feminine." This latest criticism follows a social media post by Haye on Tuesday night featuring an AI-generated image of himself giving the middle finger, accompanied by audio of Thomas saying, "I've got no issues David, you're my only issue right now."
Show Hosts Express Discomfort Over Feud
I'm A Celebrity hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly have publicly expressed their unease with the exchanges between Haye and Thomas. Speaking on the spin-off series Unpacked, Ant remarked: "It's not a nice watch. He just kind of picks and picks at them. Adam has had a bit of a tough time and he's not coping well. Clearly the banter has got too much. But David won't stop."
Dec concurred, stating: "It's kind of crossed the line from banter. I don't find it comfortable to watch."
Thomas Finds Support and Reflects on Experience
Despite the turmoil, Adam Thomas has found solace in the support of his female campmates and the public. In a heartfelt social media post ahead of the I'm A Celebrity final, Thomas shared a group photo with Scarlett Moffatt, Ashley Roberts, Sinitta, Gemma Collins and Beverley Callard, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support.
"I just want to say thank you to all these incredible women," he penned. "You've supported me in ways I don't even think you fully understand, through the doubt, the unknown, and all the moments in between. I've always had a soft heart but a strong soul, and this whole experience really tested that."
Thomas also revealed that David Haye has since apologised to him, describing the boxer as having "a heart of gold" beneath his tough exterior. "I know he gives off this bravado but deep down, I know he's a good guy," Thomas acknowledged. "He really opened up to me, explained why he is the way he is."
The feud between David Haye and Adam Thomas continues to generate significant controversy, highlighting the intense psychological pressures faced by reality television contestants and raising important questions about the line between competitive banter and harmful behaviour in such high-stress environments.
