The live final of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!: South Africa spiralled into one of the most chaotic nights in the show’s history, as David Haye launched a fierce, no-holds-barred attack on Adam Thomas — just moments after the actor was crowned Jungle Legend.
What should have been a celebratory ending quickly turned volatile when all 12 campmates reunited in the studio alongside hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly. Instead of light-hearted reflection, the night reignited old tensions — and pushed them further than ever before.
From the very start, Ant and Dec set the tone with a biting joke, telling viewers that this year’s celebrities had survived Gemma Collins’ snoring and “the most terrifying thing of all — David Haye’s theories about women.” Ant even pretended to square up to him, drawing laughs — but the mood soon turned.
David confronts Adam LIVE — and it explodes
As soon as Adam’s win was confirmed, Haye confronted him on stage, questioning whether he truly deserved to win after calling Jimmy the C-word during their time in South Africa.
Adam fired back confidently that after everything he went through, he did believe he deserved the crown. But Haye didn’t stop there. He pushed the point further, insisting Adam should ask Jimmy Bullard whether he deserved to win, adding that “a lot of that stuff was cut out” and accusing Adam of playing the victim.
Dec immediately hit back, telling Haye he wasn’t even present at the time of the incident. As tensions rose, Adam snapped: he asked Haye to let the finalists speak. At that moment, Gemma Collins stepped in, physically holding Haye back as the studio descended into chaos.
The unseen row that fuelled everything
The confrontation centred on a heated clash between Adam and Jimmy in the jungle — a moment widely believed to have been toned down in the final edit.
Haye repeatedly suggested viewers hadn’t seen the full extent of what happened, arguing that the narrative shown on TV painted Adam in a far more sympathetic light than reality.
That claim had already surfaced earlier in the week, when Haye appeared on television and doubled down on his view that Adam had exaggerated his experience.
‘Playing the victim’ — Haye doubles down
Speaking in a fiery interview, Haye mocked Adam’s claim that the jungle had been “the worst time of his life,” questioning how “soft” his life must have been.
He insisted he had actually got on with Adam after the show and had even spoken to him the day before, but claimed the actor had “fanned the flames” of the bullying narrative to gain sympathy.
Haye described Adam as a “super sweet guy” — but added that he believed he “hams it up” and is “a professional victim,” even during trials.
Health struggle dismissed as ‘convenient’
Adam, known for living with psoriatic arthritis, struggled with fatigue and dehydration during filming. But Haye controversially claimed the illness appeared at “convenient times,” implying it was exaggerated when trials approached.
The remarks triggered backlash from viewers, many of whom had already criticised the boxer throughout the series.
Sexism row explodes again
Haye’s controversial views about women — mocked live by Ant and Dec — became another major flashpoint.
During the series, he stunned campmates including Scarlett Moffatt and Ashley Roberts when discussing his girlfriend Sian Osborne.
He described her as “lovely” but said she had “the personality of a proper ugly bird,” later explaining that women who aren’t considered conventionally attractive often develop stronger personalities, humour, and banter.
He even referenced what he called an “Ugly Duckling Syndrome,” suggesting women who were once “ugly” retain those personality traits even after becoming attractive.
The comments sparked outrage online, with viewers branding him misogynistic and offensive.
Sian responds — and defends him
Sian later defended Haye, insisting she took his comment as a compliment and understood exactly what he meant.
She said she was “fluent in David” and that her family found his remarks hilarious. According to her, he was praising her personality — something she claimed the modelling industry had never done.
She also argued that people criticising him were simply looking for something to be offended by, adding that Haye represents a kind of masculinity that many are no longer used to.
The bizarre AI twist
In a surprising revelation, it was claimed that Haye usually relies on artificial intelligence to check whether his comments might be offensive before speaking publicly.
Sources suggested that without this “comfort blanket” in the jungle, his remarks came across more bluntly — though insiders insisted there was no malicious intent behind them.
A final that spiralled beyond control
With explosive confrontations, accusations of manipulation, and near-physical intervention on stage, this final has already been labelled one of the most chaotic moments in British TV history.
What should have been Adam’s triumphant moment instead became a battleground — and a reminder that for this cast, the drama didn’t end in the jungle.
