Bernard Tomic’s dramatic exit from I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! on Tuesday came as a shock to viewers.
But for one Channel Ten executive producer, the controversial tennis star’s departure may not have been all that surprising.
Speaking with Fitzy and Wippa on Wednesday, Alex Mavroidakis revealed that 25-year-old Bernard changed his mind about doing the show just days before filming began.
‘He changed his mind three days before he got on the plane’: For one Channel Ten executive producer, Bernard Tomic’s departure on I’m A Celebrity on Tuesday may not have been all that surprising
‘He told me, and I believe him, that he composed a text message to me three days before he got on the plane and that he’d changed his mind and didn’t want to do it,’ he said.
‘So he was obviously not in the right head space at all… I think watching the Australian Open play out… he had a wake up call that ‘I should be in the Australian Open semifinals.”
He added: ‘Half of me is angry with him because he’s messed up a whole load of plans that we had in place but half of me obviously wishes him all the best.’
Having doubts: ‘He told me and I believe him, that he composed a text message to me three days before he got on the plane and that he’d changed his mind and didn’t want to do it,’ Alex Mavroidakis said
Shortly after Bernard’s departure, Channel Ten joked about the fiasco on Twitter.
‘Tomic quitting… something sounds familiar here… we can’t place it #ImacelebrityAU #TomicWalks,’ the tweet read.
It comes after adolescent psychologist Dr Carr-Gregg said Bernard’s behaviour during the first episode indicated that producers should never have cast the sportsman in the first place.
Post and delete: Shortly after Bernard’s departure, Channel Ten joked about the fiasco on Twitter
‘Being there in the first place is really wrong’: Adolescent psychologist Dr Carr-Gregg has slammed Channel 10 for casting ‘depressed’ Bernard Tomic in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
‘He appeared to me to be in a very low mood. I wouldn’t go so far as to say he was clinically depressed but I would say he didn’t seem to me to be in a psychological state to be put through what he was put through,’ he told News Corp.
‘I question the wisdom of having someone who’s so young — he’s only 25 — and whether or not he’s in a good psychological space. ‘I would question the wisdom of the producers of putting someone in that scenario who is not 100 per cent.’
He later added: ‘Being there in the first place is really wrong.’
‘He appeared to me to be in a very low mood’: He told News Corp that Bernard’s behaviour during the first episode indicated that producers shouldn’t have cast the sportsman- regardless of his star power
‘Half the time during the day I’m just depressed’: During the first episode, Bernard was filmed speaking to his co-star Housewife Jackie Gillies about how he was feeling ‘depressed’
Tennis first: ‘He was obviously not in the right head space at all… I think watching the Australian Open play out… he had a wake up call that ‘I should be in the Australian Open semifinals,” producer Alex said
During the first episode, Bernard was filmed speaking to his co-star Housewife Jackie Gillies about how he was feeling ‘depressed’.
‘Half the time during the day I’m just depressed. I’ve never really had time to think about my thoughts,’ he said.
‘I always have people around, my mobile phone, my life is so fast paced.’
He’s out of there! The revelation comes just one day after Bernard ‘quit’ during a particularly difficult Tucker Trial
The revelation comes just one day after Bernard ‘quit’ during a particularly difficult Tucker Trial.
Earlier this week, tennis legend Jelena Dokic published a bizarre opinion piece in the Herald Sun criticising Bernard Tomic for appearing on the new season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The 34-year-old plays armchair psychologist in the article, claiming that Bernard ‘needs help’ and that appearing on the Channel Ten reality series is ‘not the solution’ to the 25-year-old’s issues.
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‘I don’t know where he is at mentally, but he needs some help’: Earlier this week, tennis legend Jelena Dokic published a bizarre opinion piece in the Herald Sun criticising Bernard Tomic for appearing on the new season of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!