As I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! kicks off, viewers are raising alarm over the show’s controversial animal-related challenges. While stars like Coleen Rooney, Tulisa, and Maura Higgins are settling into the jungle, some recent Bushtucker Trials have sparked fierce backlash from animal rights advocates and concerned viewers.
Animal Welfare Groups Call for End to Cruel Challenges
In the latest eating trial, campmates Higgins and Reverend Richard Coles faced the grim task of eating pig’s eyeballs, cockroaches, and even a goat’s testicle. The gruesome nature of these trials, where celebrities are pressured to consume animals or animal parts, has prompted widespread outrage. Some viewers took to social media, condemning the show for its treatment of animals.
“Never watched this s***, and never will. The cruelty to wildlife for human entertainment is beyond disgusting. This show should have been stopped years ago,” one user posted. Others echoed similar sentiments, urging for an end to the practice.
Animal welfare organizations have also voiced their concerns. PETA stated, “Killing animals off-camera before contestants are pressured into eating them—this must end.” The RSPCA similarly criticized the show for putting animals in “dangerous and unnatural situations,” highlighting the risk of encouraging harmful behavior among viewers at home.
Despite the backlash, the show’s producers stand by their practices. A spokesperson emphasized that all animals used on the show are handled safely and in compliance with regional and national laws. They also assured that the RSPCA is informed of all activities and has access to the set at any time.
As the debate continues, many viewers are left questioning the ethics of these challenges, with growing calls to rethink the role of animals in I’m A Celebrity. Will the pressure be enough to end these controversial trials? Only time will tell.
