Roxy Jacenko has officially ended her friendship with former Ironwoman Candice Warner after competing against her in a brutal boxing match on Channel Seven’s SAS Australia.
The 40-year-old PR guru explained on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday that she no longer considers Candice a friend after the women were pitted against each other in a physical fight during Monday’s season premiere.
While Candice happily took several swipes at Roxy, the Sydney publicist refused to retaliate because of their longstanding friendship.
It’s over! Roxy Jacenko (left) has officially ended her friendship with former Ironwoman Candice Warner (right) after competing against her in a brutal boxing match on Channel Seven’s SAS Australia. Pictured with former British soldier Ant Middleton (right)
‘You know what? Is [Candice] really my friend anymore? No,’ Roxy raged.
‘You know why I never hit back? She’s my mate and I’m not going to smack [her] in the face for other people’s entertainment,’ she added.
‘You wouldn’t continue punching when the person – me – turns their back and continue punching them in the back of the head. In boxing, that’s totally not allowed. The reality is, I can’t punch my then-friend in the face for people’s entertainment.’
‘You look back and go, “F**k, I should have whacked her one,” but you know what? I’m bigger than that and I’ve got respect for other people,’ she continued.
Roxy said she reached out to Candice after filming the show in the NSW Snowy Mountains and tried to repair their broken friendship.
But instead of accepting the olive branch, Roxy claimed that Candice simply ‘sacked her’ as her manager instead.
‘Is she really my friend anymore? No’: The 40-year-old PR guru explained on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday that she no longer considers Candice a friend after the women were pitted against each other in a physical fight during Monday’s season premiere
‘No, she sacked me instead,’ Roxy laughed. ‘People will always let you down. I believe after what I did for Candice that it was a real smack in the face, pardon the pun.’
Indeed, Candice recently announced she would no longer be represented by Roxy’s influencer management company, The Ministry of Talent.
She is now represented by The Ministry of Talent’s main competitor, The Society Agency.
Friendship-ending fight: While Candice happily took several swipes at Roxy, the Sydney publicist refused to retaliate because of their longstanding friendship
During the tense fight on Monday’s episode, Candice, who was a PR client of Roxy’s at the time of filming, landing several strong punches to her friend’s face.
Roxy winced in pain as she tried to defend herself from Candice’s blows, but refused to hit back.
The boxing challenge ultimately proved too much for the Bondi socialite, who promptly quit the show after being pummelled by Candice.
That’s gotta hurt: The boxing challenge ultimately proved too much for the Bondi socialite, who promptly quit the show after being pummelled by Candice
Rumours of a Roxy and Candice’s feud first surfaced late last month, when an on-set source told The Sydney Morning Herald that the boxing match ‘ended their friendship’.
The insider also claimed the pair have since ‘terminated business ties.’
Roxy no longer follows Candice on Instagram, however Candice still follows Roxy’s page.
It’s official: Roxy no longer follows Candice on Instagram; however, Candice still follows Roxy
Roxy and Candice had been close friends for years.
But their bond didn’t make headlines in 2018, when Candice’s husband, David Warner, found himself at the centre of Cricket Australia’s ball-tampering scandal.
In March that year, Roxy was pictured supporting a distraught Candice at David’s post-scandal press conference.
By her side: In March 2018, Roxy was pictured supporting a distraught Candice during her husband David Warner’s press conference at the height of the ball-tampering scandal
Friends: ‘Candice is a dear friend, thus my support, but I am not their PR,’ Roxy said at the time
‘Candice is a dear friend, thus my support, but I am not their PR,’ the publicity doyenne told The Australian at the time.
‘I will continue to be a support to the family as they deserve and will not participate in giving air to this pathetic “kick-them-while-they-are-down” mentality.’
Roxy also stood up for Candice in the wake of her miscarriage, which she suffered just a week after the ball-tampering scandal press conference.
Supportive: Roxy publicly supported the Warners in the press and on social media amid the ball-tampering scandal. Pictured: Roxy and Candice in Sydney in April 2018
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at the time, Roxy said she had a ‘great fondness’ and ‘respect’ for the Warners.
‘For a woman to have a miscarriage, it’s very, very devastating and I know for Candice and David, they had been trying for some time,’ she said.
During Monday’s radio interview, Roxy also blasted Nick ‘The Honey Badger’ Cummins for hitting a woman, after he went fist-to-fist with AFLW player Sabrina Frederick.
‘The Honey Badger had a choice. Should he have hit her back? Absolutely not. Same with Candice,’ she said sternly.
‘It’s very, very devastating’: Roxy also stood up for Candice in the wake of her miscarriage, which she suffered just a week after the ball-tampering scandal press conference. Pictured: Candice with her husband, David, and their children, Indi Rae, Ivy Mae, and Isla Rose