…By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
Presenters Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, who recently returned to screens for I’m A Celebrity…All Stars! in South Africa, caused controversy amongst viewers with a joke they made about Happy Mondays frontman Shaun Ryder.
During Monday night’s programme (April 24), the duo made reference to Shaun’s previous addiction battles, saying that the contestants would be “higher than Shaun Ryder in the nineties” before heading into camp.
Viewers React to the Joke on Twitter
Ant and Dec’s comments caused a backlash amongst some viewers, who took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the matter.
Some viewers accused the presenters of going too far, while others were shocked by their joke.
Shaun Ryder’s Alopecia Diagnosis
In 2019, Shaun spoke openly about being diagnosed with unexplained alopecia following hip surgery.
He explained that he has lost all of his hair, eyelashes, fingernails, leg hair, and armpit hair.
Doctors have been unable to explain the reason for this hair loss.
While appearing on I’m A Celebrity South Africa, Shaun had to explain why he wears sunglasses during the night, saying that he has no eyelashes and therefore, all the debris gets into his eyes.
Ant and Dec’s Joke Sparks Controversy
Ant and Dec’s joke on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! has sparked controversy among viewers.
The joke made reference to Shaun Ryder’s previous addiction battles, which some viewers felt was insensitive.
However, it is worth noting that Shaun has spoken openly about his struggles with addiction in the past.
The presenters have not yet commented on the backlash, and it is unclear whether they will address the issue in future episodes of the show.