Bernard Tomic sensationally left the South African jungle last night on episode three of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here, as it was revealed the tennis star wanted to work on his mental health and get back to training.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph’s Jonathon Moran following his abrupt exit from the show, Tomic revealed he was focused on ‘getting back to where I belong.’
‘I just don’t think that it was the right time for me here,’ he told Moran. ‘If it was the right choice and I had nothing to regret and think back to at what I am leaving, I would have stayed, I am 100 per cent certain. It is what it is and I hope one day I can come back to this in maybe a decade and complete it.’
Following the sensational exit, viewers were left frustrated and angry at Channel Ten’s ‘disrespectful’ treatment of Tomic.
In Tuesday night’s episode, Tomic was seen telling campmates and producers that he felt ‘depressed,’ and ‘worse than he’s ever felt in his life.’
‘I need some peace. This is going to knock me around for a week, two weeks. I’m just not coping. It’s too risky. I don’t know if I can do it. I’d like to speak to someone,’ he told his campmates.
Following the sudden exit of Tomic, Channel 10 caused outrage after tweeting, ‘Tomic quitting…something sounds familiar here…we can’t place it.’
Many viewers slammed the network for mocking Tomic’s decision to leave based on his mental wellbeing.
‘Disgraceful tweet. I’m no fan of his, but you seem to have either made a real error putting this kid on…or, you did it on purpose knowing the train wreck that could ensue. Either way, shame on you,’ one concerned fan wrote.
Another added, ‘This tweet is bloody disgraceful. Clearly the time for him to have some arms wrapped around him and given help not publicly mocked by the channel that put him there.’
‘Well done picking on a kid with mental issues,’ one angry viewer said.
‘Terribly irresponsible behaviour by @ImACelebrityAU and @channelten. Bernard Tomic clearly not in a fit state to be on the show- where was the due diligence?’
Channel Ten has since deleted the controversial tweet.
To make matters worse, the series co-host Julia Morris appeared on The Project to explain that she was ‘furious’ with Tomic’s decision, labelling him ‘just a quitter.’
Again, viewers were not happy with Moriss’ ill-treatment of mental health, and the tennis star’s decision to put that first.
For life saving information please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au/gethelp.
