I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp host Joel Dommett has been criticised after referring to Caitlyn Jenner as a “guy”.
The presenter made the uncomfortable remark on Sunday night as he detailed how former Olympic athlete Caitlyn – who is transgender – and James Haskell had failed a challenge to win a spot in a more luxurious camp.Caitlyn had been paired up with former rugby player-turned MMA fighter James as the ITV reality show returned for a new series, but the pair ultimately lost to Adele Roberts and Nadine Coyle.
As a result, Caitlyn and James were sent to a camp where they will live off rice and beans and sleep on the floor, with Joel voicing his surprised they’d failed to secure status as a ‘power pair’ on the ITV2 companion show.
He said: “Two athletes, so Caitlyn and James ended up in Snake Rock. I can’t believe that the two fittest guys, you know...”After Joel trailed off, panellists Alison Hammond and John Barrowman picked up the conversation, but not before some viewers expressed their disappointment at how Caitlyn had been referred to. Disappointed and angered by this comment tonight. Can’t believe @itv2 didn’t brief their staff on trans issues and how damaging comments like this could be before allowing them to present? Lazy and disrespectful @ITV@imacelebrity@Ofcompic.twitter.com/eTMFhzK7N6— Corrie David (@CorriesComments) November 18, 2019@joeldommett you literally called her Caitlyn seconds before. You know she’s a woman so why call her anything other than that?— Corrie David (@CorriesComments) November 18, 2019As if @joeldommett referred to Caitlyn as a “guy” live on air #ImACeleb#ImACelebrityGetMeOutOfHerehttps://t.co/YiLd3r1a5l— Mared (@maredparry) November 18, 2019It just baffles me that by now everyone is completely aware of Caitlyn Jenner and her story, and yet there is a complete lack of awareness and thought from @joeldommett when making this comment. It’s ignorance, pure and simple.— Kirstie Sutherland (@kirstiesuthers) November 18, 2019@joeldommett YOU JUST REFERRED TO @Caitlyn_Jenner and @jameshaskell as the fittest Olympic ‘guys’ Erm hello? Caitlyn is a woman....., @ImACelebrityAU@imacelebrity— Ryan Ellison (@RyanEll46507411) November 17, 2019Please never refer to @Caitlyn_Jenner as a guy again.— Ryan Ellison (@RyanEll46507411) November 18, 2019Joel saying "the two fittest guys" when talking about Caitlyn, oh no 🤦— 🦒Becca🐵 (@whataboutsugden) November 17, 2019HuffPost
UK has contacted reps for I’m A Celebrity for comment.
Caitlyn was one of 10 celebrities to enter the
Australian jungle on Sunday night, and viewers were immediately struck by her unlikely friendship with former Girls Aloud singer Nadine Coyle. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star had to support Nadine through a skydive, which they both undertook as part of the challenge to win places in the better camp.
The public later selected Caitlyn and Good Morning
Britain presenter Kate Garraway to face the first Bushtucker Trial of the series.
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