David Haye is reportedly preparing to sue ITV for a staggering £10million after claiming the broadcaster caused “irreparable damage” to his reputation through its editing of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa.
The former world champion boxer, 45, has allegedly instructed lawyers to launch legal action following the explosive fallout from his on-screen feud with eventual winner Adam Thomas. David believes he was deliberately portrayed as the show’s “pantomime villain” and is demanding a full investigation into how the series was edited before it aired.
According to reports, Haye is furious over the backlash he received during the ITV series, where viewers accused him of “bullying” Adam and slammed several of his comments about women. Sources close to the athlete claim he feels ITV used selective editing techniques, dramatic reaction shots and carefully timed cuts to make him appear far more aggressive and controversial than he actually was.
One insider claimed David is “incandescent with rage” over the situation and believes he has become a “scapegoat” for the show’s controversy. The source alleged that certain moments — including the now infamous exchange with Gemma Collins — were edited in a way designed to maximise outrage from viewers.
The insider also claimed the damage to David’s image has already had major financial consequences. A Netflix project he had reportedly been discussing is believed to have collapsed following the backlash, while several brand partnerships and business opportunities have allegedly been paused. Lawyers representing the former boxer reportedly believe the financial losses could eventually total up to £10million.
David is said to have hired the high-profile legal firm Gatehouse Chambers as he prepares to formally challenge ITV.
One of the biggest controversies during the series involved Gemma Collins after she told campmates, “We all need to eat tonight,” before David replied: “You need to eat tonight.” The remark immediately sparked accusations of “fat-shaming” from viewers online.
The tension surrounding David exploded once again during the live final earlier this month. In chaotic scenes, he confronted Adam Thomas live on air after the actor was crowned king of the jungle. David questioned whether Adam “deserved to win after calling Jimmy the C-word,” insisting much of the real story had been “cut out” of the final edit.
Adam defended himself by saying: “Yeah after that challenge I do think I deserve to win.”
David then doubled down, saying Adam “plays the victim,” before Dec snapped back at him: “David, you were gone. You weren’t even there!”
The argument escalated further as Adam told him: “Will you just let the finalists talk?” while Gemma Collins reportedly tried to physically hold David back as the studio descended into chaos.
David later continued defending himself during a fiery appearance on This Morning, where he insisted his comments towards Adam were merely “banter” and accused the actor of exaggerating his suffering in the jungle.
He said: “Some people had the worst time of their life, Adam for instance, he said that was the worst of his life, I don’t know how soft his life has been!”
David also accused Adam of “playing the victim card” and suggested the actor used his psoriatic arthritis to avoid certain jungle challenges, saying the condition seemed to “flare up in convenient times.”
Throughout the series, viewers repeatedly criticised the former boxer online, branding him “misogynistic,” “pathetic,” and “toxic” after several controversial comments aired during camp conversations.
One particularly divisive moment involved David describing his girlfriend Sian Osborne as having “the personality of a proper ugly bird.” While fellow campmates looked horrified, David later attempted to explain that he meant she had a strong sense of humour and personality developed before becoming conventionally attractive.
Sian later defended him publicly, insisting people had misunderstood his humour. She claimed David had meant the remark as a compliment and described him as “the embodiment of masculinity.”
Reports have also emerged claiming David normally relies heavily on artificial intelligence tools before public appearances and social media posts to check whether his comments could be considered offensive. Sources alleged he did not have access to those tools inside the jungle, leaving him without what one insider described as his usual “comfort blanket.”
As speculation grows around the potential legal battle, ITV has yet to publicly comment on the reports.
