David Haye expresses shock after an Instagram poll reveals 87% of respondents disagree with his controversial ‘ugly bird theory’ from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! All Stars.
Controversial Remarks on the Show
The former heavyweight boxer, aged 45, sparked backlash during the pre-filmed second All Stars series in South Africa last September. Sharing camp with celebrities like Beverley Callard, Harry Redknapp, Scarlett Moffatt, and Gemma Collins, Haye openly discussed his relationship with model Sian Osborne, whom he has dated since 2020.
He described her as ‘lovely’ but claimed she possesses ‘the personality of a proper ugly bird,’ attributing it to ‘ugly duckling syndrome.’ Haye explained this as ‘girls who are ugly when they start off, then they get pretty as they get older, but they’ve still got the personality of when they were ugly.’
Campmates and viewers labeled the comments sexist and disgusting, prompting some to switch off the show.
Instagram Poll Delivers Unexpected Results
Following Friday night’s dramatic final, Haye posted a poll on Instagram asking, ‘Am I right or am I wrong?’ Only 13% agreed with him, while 87% indicated he was incorrect.
In a video filmed from his car over the weekend, Haye ranted about the response. ‘I did a poll yesterday, and I was very shocked at the results… Over 85% of people said I was incorrect. I wasn’t expecting that. I thought I was right,’ he said.
Haye defended his view on ‘pretty privilege,’ stating, ‘I always thought that girls who happened to win the human lottery and are tall, attractive to the masses, have it easier going through life.’ He sarcastically questioned why supermodels’ personalities would match those without such advantages, insisting they must ‘bring something additional to the table.’
‘What are you upset about? Am I wrong? Is there no such thing as pretty privilege?’ he asked. Haye concluded, ‘Over 85% think I’m wrong. That means there are not a lot of sensible people left in the world.’
Backlash in Comments
Instagram users pushed back. One wrote, ‘The fact that you don’t understand why you’re wrong is absolutely wild.’ Another demanded, ‘Stop talking about women’s looks for god sake!’ Others called him ‘vile’ and urged him to ‘get a life and move on,’ with one adding, ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’
Sian Osborne has defended her partner’s remarks.
Drama Overshadows the Final
The final also featured tension involving Haye and campmate Jimmy Bullard, who were reportedly removed after clashing with Adam Thomas on air. The argument stemmed from Jimmy quitting a Bushtucker Trial, affecting Adam’s camp time.
Jimmy accused Adam of ‘abusive, aggressive, and intimidating’ behavior, including unbroadcastable expletives. Adam took responsibility, saying he has ‘nothing but love’ for Jimmy. Haye claimed the footage portrayed Adam as a victim.
Hosts Ant and Dec intervened, with Dec noting Haye ‘wasn’t even there’ and Ant denying aggression. Adam Thomas won the series, with Sir Mo Farah as runner-up, though the feud overshadowed his victory.
