A number of ITV viewers have accused those taking part in the I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! voting process of being “racist” following the results of the first two eliminations of the series.
On Sunday night, comedian Eddie Kadi became the second star sent home as a result of the public vote, following in the footsteps of sports presenter Alex Scott, who was the first celebrity booted from the camp.
Hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly revealed that Mr Kadi had received the fewest public votes when placed in the bottom two alongside model Vogue Williams. The comedian had spent 16 days in camp after skydiving into the jungle at the start of the series.
Mr Kadi crossed the rope bridge to leave his fellow celebrities behind, waving farewell to the campmates he had lived alongside. Just 10 remain in camp.
ITV I’m A Celebrity: Eddie Kadi spoke to Ant and Dec after his elimination on Sunday
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ITV
During his exit interview with the presenters, Mr Kadi described feeling “happy and sad at the same time” about leaving the programme, admitting it had felt like “a year” had passed.
“I’ve made amazing friends, faced some fears, and to be fair, it still feels very surreal to be on such an iconic show,” Mr Kadi told the hosts. “But most of the time you forgot it was a show.”
The comedian drew connections to his Congolese heritage, explaining: “Coming from Congo, where we have a massive rainforest, I feel like I’ve had a taste of what my grandparents experienced, and I realise now why they were so humble.”
He added: “Even when you’ve got no food, it goes to show that we are enough as human people.”
ITV I’m A Celebrity: Alex Scott was the first celebrity voted off
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ITV
Mr Kadi expressed particular admiration for fellow contestant Jack Osbourne’s wilderness expertise during the interview.
“Jack went straight through. For me, it was like survival,” he explained. “He taught me how to start a fire, from that moment… he knows everything.”
The comedian revealed he wants Mr Osbourne to claim victory in the series. “He knows what he’s doing,” Mr Kadi said of his former campmate.
Mr Kadi isn’t the only one who’s thrown his backing behind Mr Osbourne, with the reality TV star receiving plenty of public support thanks to ongoing spats with fellow campmate Kelly Brook.
ITV I’m A Celebrity: Alex Scott also spoke to Ant and Dec following her exit
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ITV
And it’s Ms Brook’s spot as a remaining campmate which irked a number of ITV viewers, with several taking issue with the fact that she, and others, remain on the show at the expense of Mr Kadi and Ms Scott.
That fact led some to claim the results have been a product of “racism” among the voting public. Social media was soon awash with complaints on Sunday evening.
“What is wrong with British TV viewers? Constantly failing to vote in favour of black, brown and other ethnic minorities on reality shows??? It’s obviously racism/race bias, which STINKS to high heaven! Yuck,” one X user claimed.
“Two black contestants, both eliminated first. Why am I not surprised? Eddie has been brill. Such a shame. #Disgraceful #imaceleb #ImACelebrity,” a second weighed in, while a third complained: “The fact that Alex and Eddie, the only two black contestants, are the first to be voted out, really shows how f*****g racist and homophobic the British public is #ImACeleb.”
“That’s both black jungle contestants voted out, clearly #racism #racist #ImACelebrity,” a fourth suggested, while a fifth fumed: “I’m a Celebrity voters are racist. I’m white but it can’t be a coincidence the two black people get voted first. Eddie was easily one of the best in the jungle #ImACelebrity.”
“#ImACeleb that’s gotta be racist man, no way Eddie should be gone that early,” another blasted, while a seventh concurred: “Alex and now Eddie, you lot are a bunch of racist freaks, you can never trust the British public to vote correctly #ImACeleb.”
And an eighth hit back at claims the complaints were “woke”. They suggested: “If noticing a pattern where Black celebs never win and usually leave early counts as ‘woke’, then I am fine with that. I would rather pay attention to what keeps happening than pretend it is just random.” (sic)
However, the allegations were met with fury from other ITV voters who disputed the claims that Ms Scott and Mr Kadi’s eliminations were down to “racism”.
ITV I’m A Celebrity: Alex Scott and Eddie Kadi’s departures sparked claims of racism
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ITV
“It’s not racist at all. He’s boring. #ImACeleb #imacelebrity,” one fan hit back, to which a second echoed: “It’s not the public being racist, it’s just Alex and Eddie doesn’t have a big fanbase #ImACeleb”
A third also argued: “What is with all the racist allegations? Have people not realised yet, after all these years, that we vote to SAVE not to kick people out?
“If anyone is at fault, maybe it’s the production editing, in that we have seen some people more than others #imaceleb.”
And another addressed the complaints about Ms Brook, specifically. “How is voting for Kelly to stay racist towards Eddie? Grow the f**k up #ImACeleb,” they slammed. (sic)