Sinitta hit back at I’m A Celeb fans for the ‘nasty backlash’ she received after her row with Gemma Collins was aired on ITV, claiming parts of the conversation were edited out
I’m A Celeb’s Sinitta hits out after Gemma Collins row saying parts were edited(Image: ITV)
Sinitta has slammed I’m A Celeb fans for their reaction to her row with Gemma Collins on the show. During Thursday’s episode, tension brewed between Sinitta and Gemma, as the former told the TOWIE star that she thought the announcement that Gemma would follow her as Mama Morton in Chicago was a ‘joke’.
Gemma was due to play the prison matron in 2022 but pulled out following a “terrible injury”. On I’m A Celeb, Sinitta said: “We were like ‘is this like a joke announcement?'” She added: “I thought you were like Zsa Zsa Gabor… You don’t do anything, but you make a great entrance! You make everybody laugh, but I didn’t know you could actually sing and dance.”
Gemma appeared to be offended by the comment and said: “I don’t think you’d get casted as Mama Morton in Chicago if you didn’t pass the audition.” She later told the cameras: “I am not a joke. I was taken aback. It was just a bit weird.”
READ MORE: Gemma Collins says she’d ‘block’ Simon Cowell over treatment towards ex-girlfriend SinittaREAD MORE: Gemma Collins breaks silence on I’m A Celeb Sinitta row with brutal two-word response
Sinitta clashed with Gemma over her announcement as Mama Morton in Chicago(Image: ITV)
Viewers also seemed upset by Sinitta’s comment and took to social media to share their outrage. However, Sinitta has now hit back at the “nasty” backlash.
In a socila media post, she said: “Goodness! I know none of you have ever heard of me before because you are young, if you did you would know I’m a very kind person who would never be horrible to Gemma Collins or anyone else.
“We actually bonded over discussing Chicago, I didn’t call her a joke, I said I thought the announcement was a joke at the time as I had not been aware that she sang and danced etc. There was lots of gossip about it in Theatreland when she didn’t do the show. Me and Brenda Edwards had to step in and play the role again.”
She added that ITV bosses had “edited out” parts of their conversation. “I had nothing else in common with Gemma apart from Chicago so it was a natural thing to talk to her about and they edited out us speaking amicably about the director and her calling us ‘2 Mama Morton’s’.
“You are all being genuinely nasty here, because you love her, I get it. But I gave her a chance to tell her side from the horses mouth! Think about it…. That is not rude, it’s called conversations. Why do people fear open conversations ?
“Maybe I’m too old school, but then I AM OLD and been working since the 80’s, I had a successful TV, theatre and film career before I even met Simon Cowell.”
Gemma appeared offended by Sinitta’s words(Image: ITV)
Sinitta also extended an apology to Gemma on her Instagram account. Under a picture of Kermit the Frog drinking Lipton tea, she wrote: “I am truly sorry that I hurt your feelings when I said I initially thought your Chicago announcement was a joke.
“I also apologised at the time of admitting it to you. People thought it was a joke when I was first announced too due to my tiny size and usually Pop vocals. I’m sad you were upset , prove everyone wrong, it feels good! Btw I love Zsa Zsa Gabor, that was a compliment.”
Tonight’s episode of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here South Africa is set to see the aftermath of the row play out in the camp. In first looks at the episode, Gemma was heard taking a swipe at Sinitta’s 40-year on and off relationship with Simon Cowell.
After Mo Farah asked Sinitta if it was true that Simon doesn’t have a mobile phone, Gemma said: “Sinitta tries to call him and she’s got to go through two PAs, housekeepers just to get a message to him.” Sinitta responded that Simon would then call whoever was trying to get a hold of him, to which Gemma said: “As and when he fancies.”
Later in the Bush Telegraph, Gemma added: “She was in an on and off relationship with him for over 40 years and when Sinitta rings he replies and says ‘I’ll call you tomorrow Sinitta’.
“I mean, if someone did that to me, they’d be blocked, scrubbed off the Christmas card list and yeah, I ain’t waiting around for no man to call me back.”
I’m A Celebrity continues tonight at 9pm on ITV.
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