Jungle diva Nella Rose has lit up I’m a Celeb – we should be BACKING her not torpedoing her career over silly Fred row
ALL hell has broken loose on I’m a Celebrity after Nella Rose erupted at Fred Sirieix following a bizarre misunderstanding.
The First Dates star’s passing comment – saying he could be her dad because of their age gap – went down like a lead balloon as the YouTuber took offence, claiming it was insensitive after the tragic passing of both her parents.
Now let’s be clear: the throwaway comment was clearly harmless and there’s no denying that she handled the situation in the wrong way. She overreacted – but predictably, so has social media.
The 26-year-old has now become the jungle villain online, with calls for her to be “cancelled” and others claiming she has “ruined her entire career”.
It’s an extreme reaction, and arguably even more harsh than the original tantrum from Nella, whose previous over-the-top outbursts had actually made her an early contender for the jungle crown.
Yes, she blew the whole thing out of proportion and it made for some uncomfortable viewing – poor Fred’s sincere apology should have sufficed.
But it’s also clear that it’s a sensitive subject for Nella, who has previously opened up about her tragic past.
The influencer sadly lost her dad Kamango Paul Hollela in 2020, and explained that she took offence to what Fred, 51, had said because she had confided in him about it.
Celeb pal Big Narstie chimed in on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “Bless @nellarose not easy greaving [sic] in public @fredsirieix1 didn’t deserve that that was cross fire from a greaving person.”
The heartache of her dad’s death, which she has described as “still fresh”, came just four years after she suddenly lost her mum Eseho Omolongo.
She previously explained: “Literally not even a month, a couple of weeks, after I turned 19 my mum passed away and it was something that you don’t expect.
“You don’t plan, it just happened.
“I didn’t wake up that day and think ‘oh my mum is going to pass away’.
“She literally just died in my arms.
“It is the worst thing that happened in my life. I will never get over it.
“I have learned to deal with it, but I do not see myself healing from it anytime soon.”
Nella was also kicked out of her council flat, where she lived with her brother, and sofa-surfed throughout university before eventually getting her own place.
“I didn’t want this to be my life,” Nella said. “I wanted to live with my mum until I was 25. I was forced to let go of that.
“All my friends when they left uni they got to go back to their parents and get cooked meals, save so much money… I had to basically be alone for the rest of my life until I get married.
“Me, my mum and my brother used to be the three musketeers. Sometimes life is so unfair.”
Nella, who was born in Belgium and is of Congolese descent, is all too aware of just how far she’s come.
She previously told her followers: “When you’re an immigrant, have been homeless, lost both parents, family have disowned you, constantly body shamed but God continues to bless you.”
She’s clearly worked hard to get where she is today – boasting 800,000 subscribers on YouTube after launching her channel seven years ago. Does she really deserve to lose that over an ill-judged moment of madness?
Tensions high
Let’s not forget that tensions are high in the jungle – everyone is tired, hungry and missing home.
Love Island star Indiyah Polack – who described her friend Nella as “bubbly” and someone who “wears her heart on her sleeve” – said: “We’re not in a sweaty jungle, we’re not being bitten by ants and eating rice and beans.
“I feel like in that environment, it’s very easy for things to be blown out or taken the wrong way.”
And despite what you think of outgoing Nella, who has divided viewers with her dramatic outbursts, she’s certainly bringing the drama and getting thousands tuning in.
Just a few days ago fans were already hailing her as the likely jungle queen, with one saying: “‘I adore Nella with every fibre of my being, if she doesn’t win I’m coming for blood.”
ITV reportedly paid a whopping £1.5million for Nigel Farage to appear on the show, and yet it’s Nella – one of the lesser-known stars – stealing the airtime.
She’s even struck up an unexpected bond with the former UKIP leader after they struggled together through Monday’s bushtucker trial, which viewers branded ‘TV Gold’.
Let’s hope her next unlikely friendship is with Fred – if they can find a way to bury the hatchet!