Famed boxer sues reality show creators over bullying allegations
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
Former heavyweight boxing world champion David Haye has launched a major legal battle against ITV, seeking £10 million in damages.
Details: According to Sport Bible, the boxer claims that his participation in the reality show “I’m A Celebrity… South Africa” caused irreparable harm to his personal brand due to the producers’ biased treatment. Haye alleges he was the victim of manipulative editing, which cast him as a “cartoon villain,” portraying him as an aggressive misogynist and a bully.
The conflict escalated after a string of controversial incidents, including Haye’s comments about women’s appearances and his heated on-air confrontation with actor Adam Thomas. Thomas publicly accused the boxer of bullying, claiming Haye deliberately tried to “break” him during their time in the camp.
The athlete vehemently denies these accusations, insisting the broadcaster intentionally used selective edits and sly glances to provoke public condemnation and make him a scapegoat for the sake of high ratings.
The £10 million lawsuit is intended to cover not only reputational damage but also lost earnings from cancelled contracts, which resulted from the widespread social media backlash against the boxer.
Reminder: Anthony Joshua is set to face Tyson Fury in an upcoming bout.
