Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald claims a Big Brother producer threatened his mum

Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald has claimed that a Big Brother producer threatened his mother over the phone while he was starring in the reality show back in 2004.

Speaking on his Nova FM radio show (via NT News), the 41-year-old said that the drama started after his friends were suspected of being involved in a vote-buying scheme to help him win the series.

‘When I was on my series there were the T-shirts that I was wearing in the house that we’d made up,’ he said, referring to the iconic ‘MLS’ T-shirts he sported on the show.

Big Brother bombshell: Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald has claimed that a Big Brother producer threatened his mother over the phone while he was starring in the reality show back in 2004

‘My mates that I grew up with were the Massive Loser Squad and we wore these T-shirts,’ he explained.

‘We copyrighted that (MLS) and I know Channel 10 were really upset because they wanted to sell the T-shirts and make money. It was really interesting because they blew up when they found out that we’d copyrighted it.’ 

According to Fitzy, his mates were selling the T-shirts in Adelaide and making a lot of money, and Channel 10 suspected that the money was going towards buying votes to keep him on the show.

Money maker: Fitzy's mates made money by selling T-shirt's branded with 'MLS,' which they copyrighted before Ryan appeared on the show

Money maker: Fitzy’s mates made money by selling T-shirt’s branded with ‘MLS,’ which they copyrighted before Ryan appeared on the show

Flashback: The former footy player appeared on the fourth season of Big Brother in 2004

Flashback: The former footy player appeared on the fourth season of Big Brother in 2004

Tensions reached boiling point when one of the show’s producers phoned the star’s mum and threatened her.

‘She gets a phone call from the executive producer at the time and he was like, ‘I’m ringing you to tell you right now, if I find out that there’s been blocks of voting for Ryan we’re going to disqualify him and you will not get any of that money!’

He added: ‘Mum was freaking out, totally freaking out.’

Suspicions: According to Fitzy, his mates were selling the MLS T-shirts in Adelaide and making a lot of money, and Channel 10 suspected that the money was going towards buying votes to keep him on the show

Suspicions: According to Fitzy, his mates were selling the MLS T-shirts in Adelaide and making a lot of money, and Channel 10 suspected that the money was going towards buying votes to keep him on the show

Fitzy, who placed fourth on Big Brother, denied that any vote buying took place.

However, according to Sydney Morning Herald, Fitzy’s friend Matt Semple told Today Tonight at the time that there were plans to use profits from the T-shirt for voting.

‘We sell them to pubs and clubs for $20,’ Matt told Today Tonight. ‘We make $2 a shirt and the $2 goes into the kitty and then we’re going to vote for Fitz to keep him in the house.’

Didn't win: Fitzy, who placed fourth on Big Brother, denied that any vote buying took place

Didn’t win: Fitzy, who placed fourth on Big Brother, denied that any vote buying took place



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