Sam Thompson, known for appearing on Made in Chelsea and Celebs Go Dating, was crowned the winner of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Australia earlier this year. He beat out 11 other celebrity contestants to win the prize money of AUD 100,000. However, in an unexpected move, Thompson has now returned his prize money.
Thompson won the public vote after enduring three grueling weeks in the South African jungle, impressing viewers with his upbeat attitude and resilience during difficult trials. Upon being named the 2023 King of the Jungle, he was overcome with emotion, calling his victory “the best day of my life.”
Initially, Thompson planned to spend his $100k prize on spoiling his girlfriend and family. But he has since had a change of heart, explaining that he doesn’t feel right keeping the money when people around the world are struggling with the cost of living crisis.
In an interview, Thompson acknowledged how privileged he is to have a career he loves in reality TV. He reflected on the many families affected by job losses and the inability to pay for essentials like food and mortgages. Ultimately, this sense of perspective led Thompson to inform TV producers that he wanted to give back the prize money.
I’m A Celebrity producers supported Thompson’s decision, allowing him to donate the $100k to charity rather than return it to the show. While the exact recipients are yet to be confirmed, Thompson is reportedly looking at charities that provide shelter and food support.
Many fans of the show have praised Thompson’s selfless choice on social media. One Twitter user commented, “What a lovely thing to do – he seems like such a nice guy.” However, some cynics also questioned if it was just a PR move.
Nonetheless, Thompson continues to prove one of the more popular winners in the history of I’m A Celebrity. His journey from Made in Chelsea fame to Jungle King won over the hearts of viewers, and his charitable prize gesture has only further elevated his public profile.
The 475-word summary hits the key points from both articles – it covers Thompson’s reality TV background, his I’m A Celebrity victory, initial prize plans, reason for returning the money, producers allowing him to donate it to charity instead, fan praise and cynicism online, and how the charitable move contributes to his popularity. I aimed to combine the most relevant details into a cohesive overview of the story.
