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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Dominique Hines

I’m a Celebrity sparks ‘racism row’ as black TV stars Scarlette and Charlene voted off first

I’m A Celebrity fans have cited racism as the reason presenter Scarlette Douglas became the second celebrity to leave the jungle, as actor Babatúndé Aléshé narrowly escaped.

Douglas’s exit follows Loose Women panellist Charlene White’s departure as the first person to leave the show on Friday night (November 18).

A Place In The Sun presenter Douglas became emotional after hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly announced that the public had been voting for their favourites to stay and she got the least votes.

The camp was told that it was between Douglas and comedian Babatúndé Aléshé.

Douglas was in the bottom two as the public’s least favourite, along with comedian Babatúndé Aléshé (ITV)

Douglas broke down in tears as she was comforted by her former rugby ace campmate Mike Tindall.

The announcement sparked backlash online.

One viewer tweeted: “Racist Britain strikes again.”

Another wrote: “Those saying it’s because Scarlette and Charlene are boring as if all the others are amazing! Give me a break. 3 black ppl in the bottom vote since the show began!”

Loose Women star Charlene White was the first star to be booted from the 2022 series (ITV)

A third commented: “The voting clearly shows that the public are racist. Voting out the first 2 black women from camp.”

While a fourth said: “So two black women out first and Babatúndé in the bottom two? Interesting.”

Another echoed the sentiment, writing: “People are so obviously racist. The first two people to leave are black women and in the odds one of the people most likely to leave is a black man.”

They added: “I’m actually sick of this, there’s never been a black winner either. this was supposed to be the year with Scarlette.”

Douglas, sixth from left, was described as “beautiful inside and out” by campmate Owen Warner (ITV)

And another viewer asked: “A pattern emerging..?”

One angry fan said they were sickened to see her leave over former health secretary Matt Hancock, who arrived as a controversial latecomer to the camp.

“Scarlette over Matt Hancock. You guys make me SICK.”

Asked about her departure by Ant and Dec, Douglas said: “I’m not ready to leave yet and these people are incredible.”

She was described as “beautiful inside and out” by campmate Owen Warner, in a video clip that left her in tears again.

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