Gemma Collins has threatened to sue ITV for damages over a ‘highly offensive’ sketch created of her to promote I’m A Celeb All Stars.
The TOWIE star, 44, filmed the spinoff in South Africa alongside Sir Mo Farah, Harry Redknapp, Ashley Roberts, and Scarlett Moffatt, all of whom have agreed to brave the jungle for a second time.
But Gemma says she was left ‘hurt’ and ‘upset’ by a caricature sketch created of each contestant by ITV to promote the series, calling her own picture ‘highly offensive’ and ‘damn right disgusting.’
She even threatened legal action over the ‘unflattering’ promotional material, questioning why the show’s stars are being turned into a ‘laughing stock’ despite giving their all to the program.
The reality personality made her feelings known to producers in a group WhatsApp chat, where she refused to share her caricature with the rest of the cast.
Gemma first appeared on I’m A Celeb in 2014, famously quitting the show after just three days due to the lack of food and tough living conditions.
Gemma Collins has threatened to sue ITV for damages over a ‘highly offensive’ sketch created of her to promote I’m A Celeb All Stars
The TOWIE star first appeared on I’m A Celeb in 2014, famously quitting the show after just three days due to the lack of food and tough living conditions
The reality personality made her feelings known to producers in a group WhatsApp chat, where she refused to share her caricature with the rest of the cast
A source revealed: ‘Caricature sketches were made of each of the celebrities taking part in I’m A Celeb All Stars.
‘It was meant to be a bit of fun to use for promotional purposes when the show is officially announced, and most of the contestants could see the funny side. But Gemma was really upset by her image.
‘She has worked hard over the years to feel confident in her own skin, and it was difficult for her to see herself portrayed in such an exaggerated way, which definitely felt unkind.
‘Gemma also felt frustrated, given all the hard work and energy she had put into filming I’m A Celeb All Stars. Even returning to the show, when she hated it so much the first time, she didn’t expect to be made a laughing stock.’
A source added: ‘There is no dispute, and anything that upset Gemma has now been rectified.
‘There was a creative process involved, with some back and forth, but everyone has been able to move forward.’
I’m A Celeb All Stars is set to air early next year and will also feature former contestants David Haye, Seann Walsh, Sinitta, Adam Thomas, and Beverley Callard.
Producers convinced Gemma, who since leaving TOWIE has fronted a successful BBC podcast and is currently filming her new reality series Four Weddings and a Baby, to take part after she only lasted three days during her first stint.
The Daily Mail has contacted Gemma’s representative and ITV for comment.
Producers convinced Gemma, who since leaving TOWIE has fronted a BBC podcast and is currently filming her new reality series, to take part after she only latest three days in 2014
Before heading to the jungle, Gemma later revealed that she had been robbed and attacked, which explained her vulnerable position on the show
The current series of I’m A Celeb is airing on ITV, and on Friday evening’s show the first celebrity will be voted out of the competition
Before heading to the jungle, Gemma later revealed that she had been robbed and attacked, which explained her vulnerable position on the show.
Once Gemma left the camp in 2014, she explained her version of events, saying: ‘What a lot of people didn’t know is that 24 hours before I went in, something really bad happened to me, and I had quite serious injuries, injuries to my head and all over my body.
‘But I didn’t want to let anyone down, and I was like, I’ve got to do this; it’s such a massive opportunity.
‘But when I got into the jungle, everyone was saying I had only been in there for two days, when I had actually been in there for six. I had just been through so much trauma, and when I got in there, the shock came out.’
Now in a much better place both mentally and physically, Gemma, who is engaged to fiancé Rami Hawash, took on the jungle for a second time to show how far she has come since her first appearance.
After having one of the most successful years of her career thanks to multiple lucrative brand deals and securing her own TV series, Gemma hopes that viewers will see her in a much better light compared to in 2014.
The current series of I’m A Celeb is airing on ITV, and on Friday evening’s show the first celebrity will be voted out of the competition.
After going head-to-head during the rivals challenge, the losing contestants, Aitch, Jack Osbourne, Alex Scott, Angry Ginge, Martin Kemp, Kelly Brook, and Ruby Wax, are up for the first public vote.
