Adam Thomas' Reality TV Troubles Echo Brother Ryan's Infamous CBB Scandal
I’m a Celebrity star Adam Thomas has recently found himself embroiled in heated disputes with fellow campmates, including ex-boxer Daye Haye and former footballer Jimmy Bullard, the latter of which led to Bullard's departure from the show. However, this is not the first instance of a Thomas brother being caught up in a reality television controversy.
The 2018 'Punchgate' Incident Involving Ryan Thomas
Back in 2018, Adam's older brother Ryan Thomas became the centre of one of the most discussed moments in Celebrity Big Brother history, an event quickly dubbed "punchgate." Ryan, then 41 and a favourite to win the Channel 5 series, was involved in an incident with housemate Roxanne Pallett during what seemed like a playful moment in the bedroom.
Footage captured Ryan shadow-boxing and lightly tapping Roxanne's side, but the situation escalated dramatically when Roxanne, a former Emmerdale actress, accused him of deliberately punching her. She reported feeling "hurt" and "scared" in the Diary Room, repeatedly describing the act as a "punch," which resulted in Ryan receiving a formal warning from producers.
Roxanne broke down emotionally, stating, "This is why women don’t say anything, because it’s turned around." The accusation visibly affected Ryan, who was brought to tears as he defended himself, insisting there was no malicious intent behind his actions.
Public Reaction and Aftermath of the Scandal
Initially, viewers were divided, but the full airing of the footage shifted public opinion. Once clips were shown in their entirety, fans rallied behind Ryan, accusing Roxanne of attempting to portray him as abusive when it was not the case. Ryan only learned of his perceived innocence on eviction night when the live audience chanted "Get Roxanne out!"
Roxanne later left the show and gave a tense interview with host Emma Willis, admitting she had made a "terrible mistake" and lamenting, "I'm the most hated girl in Britain." She subsequently acknowledged her allegations were "massively wrong" and retreated from social media temporarily, with Ofcom receiving over 25,000 complaints about the incident.
Ryan went on to win the series, with many praising his handling of the ordeal under intense scrutiny. Reflecting years later, he expressed sympathy for Roxanne, noting, "It’s so weird to say this but I actually feel sorry for her because when you're in a show like that, and everything’s highlighted and it's public, it can be quite a lonely and scary place."
Scott Thomas' Love Island Drama Adds to Family's Reality TV Legacy
Unlike Adam and Ryan, who gained fame through soap operas, their brother Scott Thomas rose to prominence on Love Island in 2016, finishing in third place with then-girlfriend Kady McDermott before their split months later. Scott returned to reality TV for Love Island: All Stars in 2025, where he became entangled in one of the series' biggest rows.
After several clashes with fellow Islander Luca Bish, tensions peaked when Scott expressed a desire to ask Luca's partner, Grace Jackson, a question during a truth or dare game. This led to a heated argument where the two had to be physically separated. Luca later dared to kiss the person he believed was only in the villa for fame, planting a kiss on Scott's cheek and commenting, "I think he wants to get far in here and that’s why you’re with Tina and you’re not feeling it."
The emotional fallout prompted Scott to quit the villa, citing a lack of romantic connection with anyone. This series of events underscores the Thomas family's recurring involvement in high-profile reality television controversies, spanning multiple shows and years.
