David Haye criticised for ‘disgusting’ comments about girlfriend on I’m A Celebrity

"He just kept digging and digging."

The retired boxer returned to the jungle 14 years after his first time in the camp.

Haye has joined the likes of Gemma Collins, Mo Farah, Seann Walsh, Ashley Roberts, Craig Charles, Beverley Callard, and Harry Redknapp in the lineup.

However, he's now faced significant criticism for several of his remarks. In a first-look clip ahead of Monday night’s episode, Haye is seen discussing his relationship with Sian Osborne, whom he has been dating since 2020.

While telling Scarlett Moffatt that it would be “good to get everyone together” after the show ends, Haye went on to praise his partner for her culinary skills.

He said: "She can cook for, like, 60 people. We have these parties in Costa Rica every week."

Ashley Roberts then described her as 'unbelievable', before pop star Sinitta asked if Sian was Costa Rican, to which Haye replied: "No, she’s not Costa Rican. She’s, like, tall, blue eyes…"

Sinitta remarked: "She sounds like she’s drop-dead gorgeous," before the boxer began to make increasingly ill-judged comments.

After calling his girlfriend 'lovely’, Haye added: "She’s got the personality of a proper ugly bird."

Scarlett quickly shot him down, saying: "You can’t say that, David!", but he proceeded to dig himself into a hole.

Haye continued: "Why? No, she has, honestly. Most ugly girls realise they’ve gotta have a personality and the banter to tell jokes and s**t, so people overlook the fact that they’re not aesthetically amazing straight away.

"It’s called Ugly Duckling Syndrome. Where girls are ugly when they start off, then they get pretty as they get older, but they’ve still got the personality of when they were ugly."

Scarlett awkwardly laughed his comments off, with Ashley bluntly adding: "Dear God."

As soon as the video made its way to social media, Instagram users began slamming Haye for his comments.

One person wrote: "That was the most cringey thing I’ve ever seen… and he just kept digging and digging."

Another shared: "It makes me happy to see that no one was in agreement," with a third adding: "Think this lad has had a few knocks to the head."

"He should have put down the shovel so much earlier while he had the chance," another wrote.