Sinitta has hit back at ITV viewers after facing backlash over her comments to Gemma Collins about her Chicago casting, saying parts of their conversation were edited out
Sinitta has hit back at I’m A Celebrity viewers following their response to her on-screen clash with Gemma Collins. Thursday’s episode saw friction emerge between the pair, after Sinitta revealed to the TOWIE star that she had considered the announcement of Gemma succeeding her as Mama Morton in Chicago to be a ‘joke’.
Gemma had been set to portray the prison warden in 2022 but withdrew due to a “terrible injury”. During I’m A Celeb, Sinitta said: “We were like ‘is this like a joke announcement?’” before adding: “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 visibly taken aback by the remark, responding: “I don’t think you’d get casted as Mama Morton in Chicago if you didn’t pass the audition.” She subsequently told producers: “I am not a joke. I was taken aback. It was just a bit weird.”
Viewers appeared equally displeased with Sinitta’s comment, taking to social media in droves to voice their displeasure and calling for her exit. Sinitta has now fired back at the “nasty” criticism directed her way.
In a social 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,” reports the Mirror.
She went on to claim that ITV producers had “edited out” portions of their exchange. “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.”
Sinitta also took to her Instagram account to offer Gemma a public apology. Beneath a photograph of Kermit the Frog sipping 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.”
I’m A Celebrity… South Africa is on ITV1 and ITVX

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