Adam Thomas Claims He Was ‘Exploited’ by ITV After ‘Bullying’ from David Haye During I’m A Celeb Chaos 💔

Adam Thomas, the I’m A Celebrity… South Africa winner, has revealed the emotional toll of his time on the show, claiming he was “exploited” by ITV during the explosive live final. The actor, best known for his role in Waterloo Road, opened up in a tearful interview about the harassment he endured in the Kruger National Park camp, including accusations of bullying from ex-boxer David Haye.

The controversy surrounding the live final of I’m A Celeb last week left viewers stunned as tensions between Thomas, Jimmy Bullard, and David Haye reached a boiling point in front of a live studio audience. What began as a light-hearted competition for the crown quickly escalated into a volatile exchange of words, accusations, and emotional outbursts that left everyone questioning the true nature of the relationships between the campmates.

‘It Wasn’t About Me Anymore’ – Adam Thomas Speaks Out

Speaking candidly on his Thomas Bros podcast with his brothers Ryan and Scott, Adam Thomas described his experience in the camp as nothing short of overwhelming. “It just wasn’t about me,” Adam explained, reflecting on the chaotic live final where his ongoing fallout with campmates, particularly David Haye, seemed to overshadow his own moment of triumph.

“I feel like it’s just a show to them, to David and some of the other campmates,” Thomas said. “It’s entertainment. It’s fun. But for me, it was never about playing a character or an agenda—this was my life. I was here to have fun and enjoy the experience. But that whole live show… I just felt like I was being exploited.”

The episode in question, which aired live from the Hammersmith Apollo Theatre, featured an explosive confrontation that saw Bullard and Haye reignite their feud with Thomas. As the winner of the pre-recorded show, Thomas found himself in the middle of a drama-filled storm that seemed more about drama than celebration. “That was the moment when I realized it wasn’t about me anymore,” Thomas continued, “I was caught up in a narrative that didn’t belong to me.”

Bullying Claims: David Haye’s Manipulative Behavior Exposed

One of the most striking moments of Thomas’s reflection was his claim that David Haye’s behavior in camp went far beyond what could be dismissed as “banter.” According to Thomas, Haye’s actions were nothing short of bullying, leaving him emotionally vulnerable. “What happened to me in camp was bullying. That is the matter of fact,” Thomas declared.

Thomas, who has previously been open about his struggles with mental health, explained how Haye’s manipulative actions left him emotionally exposed. “The thing about David is, he got inside my head. He manipulated my mental health issues. And I didn’t even see it at the time. I didn’t speak up when I should have because everyone around me was passing it off as banter,” he said, his voice breaking with emotion.

“I can understand why others saw it as banter,” Thomas acknowledged. “But I’m telling you, from my perspective, it wasn’t. It was bullying.”

One of the most disturbing revelations Thomas shared was his post-show conversation with Haye. “I spoke to him when I got out of the camp. I asked him, ‘Why did you keep doing this to me? Why did you treat me like this?’ And he said, ‘I’ve never met a nicer guy, I just wanted to break you.’”

For Thomas, this was the moment when it became clear: Haye’s behavior was not a misunderstanding or playful teasing—it was intentional psychological manipulation. “If that isn’t bullying, then I don’t know what is,” Thomas added, still visibly shaken by the experience.

Manipulating Mental Health: ITV’s Role Under Scrutiny

The emotional toll of Haye’s actions was compounded by what Thomas claims was ITV’s role in allowing the situation to unfold. According to Thomas, ITV producers played a part in fueling the tension between him and Haye, using his vulnerability as part of the entertainment narrative. Thomas spoke about an incident where Haye approached him, claiming that ITV producers had informed him of Thomas’s mental health issues after an incident where he fainted in camp.

“David came to me and said, ‘I’ve been worried about your mental health. They told me to stop now. Have you been crying about me in there?’” Thomas recalled. But when Thomas went to confront ITV producers in the Bush Telegraph, he was shocked to learn the truth. “I stormed in there, breaking down, and they said, ‘Adam, we’ve never once said anything to David about your mental health.’”

It was only after Thomas spoke to Haye directly that he discovered the boxer had fabricated the entire story. “He told me, ‘Yeah, I just made it all up.’ That was when I realized: I’d been manipulated.”

Thomas’s emotional breakdown during this period became a pivotal moment in the show, highlighting the intense mental and emotional strain he was under. “David got in my head like you wouldn’t believe,” Thomas said. “He mind-f***** me. He took away the light that I had, and for me, that’s a gift. It’s a gift to take someone’s energy away like that.”

A Deeper Look Into the ‘Banana Skin’ of Reality TV

While Thomas has been vocal about his struggles with mental health in the past, this experience on I’m A Celeb shed a stark light on the darker side of reality TV. Reality shows, particularly those involving intense, emotionally charged environments like I’m A Celeb, often blur the lines between entertainment and real-life consequences.

For Thomas, the blurred lines between what is “real” and what is “for the show” left him feeling exploited by both his fellow campmates and the producers who allowed the situation to unfold for the sake of drama. “It’s hard, the whole experience,” Thomas admitted. “I just felt like I was in the midst of it all, and it wasn’t even about me.”

Despite the trauma he experienced, Thomas emphasized that he wasn’t playing the victim. “Everyone says you’re playing the victim. But that is the last thing I want to do. I just wanted it all to go away,” he explained. His journey through the camp was marked by emotional highs and lows, with moments of genuine camaraderie, but ultimately overshadowed by the manipulative tactics used by some of his fellow campmates.

The Aftermath: A Look Forward

Following the live final, Adam Thomas’s journey in the I’m A Celeb jungle has left a lasting impact on fans and the broader reality TV landscape. His emotional revelations about bullying, mental health manipulation, and feeling exploited by ITV have sparked a broader conversation about the ethics of reality television and the emotional toll it can take on contestants.

For Thomas, the experience has left deep scars, but he is determined to move forward, drawing strength from his family and his own resilience. His story is a reminder that reality TV, while offering entertainment, can come with real emotional and mental costs. As for his relationship with David Haye, Thomas has made it clear: “I’m done now. I hope you find happiness, but I can’t continue with this.”

As for ITV, questions remain about their responsibility in protecting contestants’ mental well-being and whether their pursuit of drama sometimes goes too far. Whatever happens next, Adam Thomas’s truth is out, and it’s one that sheds light on the hidden emotional struggles behind the glitzy facade of reality television.