David Haye Doubles Down on Controversial Therapy Comments
Former world champion boxer David Haye has delivered another brutal verbal blow to his former I'm A Celebrity campmate Adam Thomas, reigniting their jungle feud with inflammatory remarks about mental health support. The 45-year-old sportsman, who faced significant backlash for his behaviour during the ITV reality show, has now suggested the Emmerdale actor needed physical exercise rather than psychological counselling following their tense encounters.
The Push-Ups Over Therapy Controversy
In a series of explosive interview excerpts published by The Sun, Haye dismissed Thomas's decision to seek therapy after their time together in the Australian jungle. "He didn't need therapy," Haye declared. "He needed push ups." When challenged about whether his comments crossed from banter into bullying territory, the boxer defended his approach by claiming he had received "positive feedback" about his conduct.
The controversy stems from incidents during the 2026 series of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, where tensions escalated when Thomas, 37, withdrew from a Bushtucker trial citing dehydration and health concerns. Haye responded with visible irritation at the time, branding his campmate "useless" and questioning why a "grown arse man" couldn't participate.
Adam Thomas's Emotional Aftermath
Thomas, who has been open about his psoriatic arthritis diagnosis in 2023, revealed on his At Home With The Thomas Bros podcast that the experience had profoundly affected him. "I'm in therapy now because of it," he confessed. "It's f***ed with me mentally because I just thought, 'How is this happening? I'm a 37-year-old man.'"
The actor explained that the confined jungle environment made the situation particularly difficult to navigate. "In a different environment, on the outside if this happened to you, you'd leave the situation," he said. "But because you're in an environment like that, there's nowhere to hide. You just have to grin and bear it."
Campmates Rally Around Thomas
During the original broadcast, several fellow celebrities including Gemma Collins and Scarlett Moffatt defended Thomas against Haye's criticisms. Even hosts Ant and Dec expressed support for the actor, while numerous public figures voiced solidarity on social media platforms.
Thomas later revealed that Haye had apologised for his behaviour, describing the boxer as having a "heart of gold" beneath his tough exterior. "He really opened up to me, explained why he is the way he is," Thomas noted, suggesting some reconciliation had occurred between the pair.
Haye's Unrepentant Stance
Despite the apology, Haye's latest comments demonstrate his continued refusal to accept any wrongdoing. In his interview, he questioned how someone earning substantial fees for participating in a reality show could find the experience difficult. "Probably getting £20,000-£25,000 per day for being in that jungle - how is that hard?" he asked rhetorically. "If a few comments breaks him, how soft is he?"
The boxer acknowledged receiving both positive and negative feedback about his jungle behaviour but maintained his position, creating renewed debate about acceptable conduct in reality television environments and the appropriate response to mental health challenges following such intense experiences.
