Two latecomers have been confirmed to be joining the cast of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! 2023 – former professional boxer Tony Bellew and jockey Frankie Dettori.
The arrival of the newcomers will undoubtedly shift the dynamic in camp, as they join famous faces including Nella Rose, Fred Sirieix, Josie Gibson, Nigel Farage and Jamie Lynn Spears.
As viewers prepare to watch the duo take on Bushtucker Trials for the first time, there will undoubtedly be increased interest in their careers and live pre-dating their time on the ITV show.
Bellew, whose wife is Rachael Roberts, is best-known for his accomplishments as a boxer, going on to also appear in Michael B Jordan’s Creed movies as antagonist Ricky Conlan.
He has also gained attention in the past for controversial remarks, such as when he gave his view on UFC boss Dana White slapping his wife, and was accused of sharing a ‘conspiracy theory’ regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tony Bellew’s criticised remarks over Dana White incident
Earlier this year, Bellew shocked people on X (formerly Twitter) when he gave his view on a violent incident that occurred between UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) CEO White and his wife, Anna Stella.
During a New Year’s Eve party in 2022, the couple were captured on video fighting, with Stella slapping her husband before he slapped her back.
White later told TMZ that there was ‘no excuse’ for his actions, before saying in a press conference that he ‘owned’ his actions, adding when discussing what the appropriate ‘punishment’ would be: ‘This is how I’m labelled now.’
In a tweet responding to White’s press conference, Bellew wrote: ‘I don’t condone men hitting women in anyway shape or form but I must also say I don’t condone women slapping men and expecting nothing back!
‘Dana White has owned this an fair play to him. The punishment is his life is played out in public. Imagine others done what he’s done here!’
One person responded to Bellew’s comment: ‘Horrendous take,’ while another wrote: ‘Incredibly disappointing statement of whataboutery and gaslighting.’
‘You literally just said you didn’t condone it and in the same sentence condoned it!’ someone else added.
Expressing his belief that James Bulger killers should have been ‘gassed’
In 2018, Bellew posted a tweet in reference to a documentary called The Bulger Killers: Was Justice Done? airing on Channel 4.
In 1993 when he was two years old, James Patrick Bulger was abducted, tortured and murdered by Robert Thompson and Jon Venables, both of whom were 10 at the time.
Thompson and Venables became the youngest convicted murderers in modern British history in February that year.
In 2017, Venables was sent to prison for the possession of child sexual abuse images that were found on his computer.
On February 5 2018, Bellew tweeted: ‘9pm tonight Channel 4! The Bulger Killers: Was Justice Done?
‘I’ll answer this question before it’s even aired! NO justice wasn’t done! One is now a registered peadophile an multiple offender while the other is also a scumbag to! They should of both been gassed when they done it! [sic].’
While there were some people who agreed with Bellew’s takes, others condemned him calling for children to be ‘gassed’, even if they had committed a barbaric crime of the most heinous nature.
Squaring up to SAS: Who Dares Wins star Ant Middleton
In 2020, Bellew competed on the Channel 4 reality TV programme Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
During the series, the boxer had a ‘clash’ with host Ant Middleton, admitting that he had been prepared for their tension to build up to an actual fight.
‘That was a clash of two lions. I was ready to just go for it. I really was,’ he told The Mirror (via MailOnline).
However, he added: ‘Thankfully, I took a breath and walked away.’
In a clip from Celebrity SAS, Bellew and Middleton could be heard swearing at each other, while the former carried another contestant over his shoulders.
When Bellew and some of the other celebrities missed getting on transport vehicles in time during a task, he squared up to Middleton, who continued to lambast him for falling behind ‘enemy lines’.
Despite Bellew being the one to approach Middleton, he then said that he ‘understood’ what the infuriated instructor was saying.
Middleton continued: ‘If you want to f**king take it out on me, crack on,’ while Bellew responded: ‘It’s my f**king fault,’ before taking some deep breaths.
Accused of spreading ‘conspiracy theory’ over Covid-19
In September 2020, months after the Covid-19 pandemic spread the globe, Bellew complained on X about the negative impact the outbreak was having.
In a post, he wrote: ‘Pandemic or Plan-Demic?? I don’t know? It’s ruining people’s lives!
‘Shield the vulnerable and let’s get things moving for the last time! Every time I turn this on I just see people looking to hurt themselves or worse yet commit suicide! PLEASE SPREAD POSITIVITY!!’
One person responded to him: ‘Don’t fall into the conspiracy theory rabbit hole. Virus’ come from nature. They’ve been here on earth before humans. The real crux of all diseases is over population.’
Another individual urged him to ‘stick to boxing’, while someone else quipped: ‘“SPREAD POSITIVITY”… oh and conspiracy theories.’
They continued: ‘It’s a s***e situation but to think governments want this, is barmy.’
‘Jumping to defence’ of Dominic Cummings during Covid
In May 2020, it emerged that Dominic Cummings was being investigated by the police for breaking lockdown rules, months after the pandemic began, when he was reportedly seen at his parents’ home in Durham, more than 250 miles away from his home in London.
The chief adviser to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson was later reported to have broken lockdown rules for a second time, by visiting his parents’ home.
While Cummings received widespread condemnation for his actions, before resigning in November that year.
In response to the controversy, Bellew tweeted: ‘I don’t give a s**t about one man driving the length of the country to get his kids minded!
‘Now if he threw a party with 50 strangers I’d say he’s bang out of line Let’s be honest the media are making out like he’s a proper killer or something! Report something that’ll HELP US!’
In response, one person tweeted: ‘You are so wrong on this one, Tony. Shame on you, pal,’ but Bellew stuck to his guns, responding: ‘One man travelling to his parents shouldn’t be all over our news stations! I don’t give a s**t about politicians there all the same!’
Complaining about impact of Covid restrictions on sport
In October 2020, Bellew expressed his frustration on Twitter over the fact that people in certain areas of the country, such as Liverpool, could not go to gyms or leisure centres as part of the Covid-19 restrictions that had been put in place by the government.
However, in other areas such as London, hundreds of people were allowed to go to the Palladium theatre while covering their mouths with face masks.
Sharing a picture of crowds of people sitting in a theatre, with some separated by seats between them, he wrote in his tweet: ‘All of sport is suffering! Our city is on complete LOCKDOWN!
‘WTF is this about! Gyms closing! Are you lot f**king INSANE! Your making people weaker by closing gyms yet it’s fine for thousands to gather in here! Just fuck off! [sic].’
Other people also criticised venues such as the Palladium being packed with attendees, while football fans weren’t allowed to watch matches from stadiums.
In a post on Twitter, Piers Morgan wrote at the time: ‘How can the London Palladium be packed like this last night for an event with Arsene Wenger, but football fans aren’t allowed to watch matches outside even socially distanced?
I’m completely bemused. 👇.’
I’m A Celebrity returns at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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