I'm A Celeb: South Africa's Gemma Collins and Sinitta clash as camps merge
The drama is heating up in South Africa
After days of this year's All Stars being split between two groups, Savannah Slum camp mates Adam Thomas, Gemma Collins, Seann Walsh and Beverley Callard were finally reunited with the main camp on Thursday night's (9th April) I'm A Celeb: South Africa.
Despite the group entering with six stars, it didn't take long for tensions to rise, with Gemma having conversations with both David Haye and Sinitta.
After calling boxer David out for 'not believing' her redemption speech earlier in the week, Sinitta piped up to ask Gemma how her role in the musical Chicago came about.
Sinitta asked: “What happened with Chicago? Because you were supposed to follow me as Mama Morton in Chicago, it was like announced and everything.”
Gemma replied saying: “I had a terrible injury… it was something to do with the insurance.”
However, Sinitta then confessed she though the announcement about Gemma replacing her as Mama Morton was a 'joke', saying: “I’m sorry, but I’m going to admit it, when I heard you were going to do it, I thought it was a joke announcement."
As camp mates Scarlett Moffatt and Seann Walsh looked on awkwardly, Gemma said: “It’s not a joke, Sinitta, I auditioned for it fair and square.
“I did all the training and everything, had a voice coach.”
After asking why she thought it was a joke, Sinitta said: "I think you’d just presented something at an awards show and fell off the stage. It was like you were more of a comedian.
"I didn’t know you could actually sing, dance and all that jazz.”
After seeing the awkward scene unfold, viewers of the show were quick to take to social media to react.
One wrote: 'That’s hurtful. Gemma tried to shrug it off but you could see it had upset her', with another adding: 'When your light shines bright others will try to dim your shine ✨ love Gemma always have 🙌'. (sic)
Another said: 'This was so rude. Even if you thought it, wwhhyyy say it!?', with someone else adding: 'Sinitta’s comment did come across rude.'.
Later on in the episode, Beverley checked in on Gemma who seemed down following the chat, before she opened up further to Adam about the 'hurtful' comments.
Since the episode aired, 62-year-old Sinitta has responded to some online trolls, saying: 'Goodness! I know none of you have ever heard of me before because you are young. If you did, you would know I’m a very kind person who would never be horrible to @gemmacollins or anyone else.
'We actually bonded over discussing Chicago, I didn’t call her a joke, I said I thought the announcement was a joke at the time as I had not been aware that she sang and danced etc. There were lots of gossip about it in theatreland when she didn’t do the show. Me and @brendaedwardsglobal had to step in and play the role again.
'I had nothing else in common with Gemma apart from Chicago so it was a natural thing to talk to her about and they edited out us speaking amicably about the director etc and her calling us “2 Mama Morton’s!” You are all being genuinely nasty here, because you love her, I get it. But I gave her a chance to tell her side from the horse's mouth! Think about it.
'That is not rude, it’s called conversations. Why do people fear open conversations? Maybe I’m too old school, but then I am old and been working since the 80’s. I had a successful TV, theatre and film career before I even met @simoncowell. OK, that’s all, sleep well.' (sic)
If the preview for Friday night's episode is anything to go by, it looks like the drama surrounding Gemma is only going to continue, as she calls out David Haye for 'not liking her' in the next trial.
Now check out all of this year's I'm A Celeb camp mates below:
Adam Thomas: WINNER
Sir Mo Farah: SECOND PLACE
Harry Redknapp: THIRD PLACE
Craig Charles: FOURTH PLACE
Scarlett Moffatt: SIXTH OUT
Sinitta: FIFTH OUT
Ashley Roberts: FOURTH OUT
Jimmy Bullard: LEFT
Beverley Callard: LEFT for medical reasons
Gemma Collins: THIRD OUT
David Haye: SECOND OUT
Seann Walsh: FIRST OUT
I'm A Celeb: South Africa continues every night at 9pm on ITV/ITVX and STV/STV Player.
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