When Vogue Williams stepped into the I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! jungle on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 9:00 PM UTC, viewers didn’t just see a reality star ready for bugs and bush tucker—they saw a woman walking into the spotlight with two heavy ghosts from her past. The British-Irish presenter, 37, entered as a latecomer to the 2025 series broadcast by ITV, but the real drama unfolded online, where her 2017 political column and her husband’s 2016 steroid scandal resurfaced with viral force. It wasn’t just another celebrity arrival. It was a reckoning.
Spencer Matthews’ 2016 Exit: The Steroid Scandal That Never Faded
Spencer Matthews, 36, was pulled from the 2016 I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! after just two days—not because he quit, but because producers discovered he’d been secretly taking anabolic steroids to bulk up for a charity boxing match. Cosmopolitan UK confirmed this in a November 20, 2025, report, citing internal production notes and Matthews’ own candid admission: he’d hoped to "bulk up a bit for the fight" and planned to taper off gradually. But time ran out. "It was a serious error of judgement," he later told producers, calling his removal "extremely hard" but necessary for "duty of care." The LADbible Group corroborated the story on November 19, noting Matthews would not be supporting his wife during the 2025 series—a fact that added emotional weight to Williams’ entrance.What’s striking isn’t just the steroid use—it’s how little the public has forgotten. Even though it happened nine years ago, the episode remains a defining moment in reality TV lore. Unlike other contestants who leave for personal reasons, Matthews’ exit was a medical intervention. ITV’s decision, though controversial at the time, set a precedent: reality shows now monitor health risks more closely. But for Williams, it’s a personal shadow. She’s entered the jungle knowing her husband can’t be there to cheer her on—because of choices he made before she even became a household name.
The 2017 Internment Camp Column: A Political Misstep That Echoes
Then there’s the 2017 controversy that still haunts Vogue Williams. In June of that year, following the London and Manchester terrorist attacks, she wrote a column—later published by an unnamed outlet—arguing that "internment camps" were a "grim necessity" for national security. The piece, which surfaced again in full on November 20, 2025, by The Tab, ignited immediate fury. Donald Clarke, a veteran journalist at The Irish Times, called her stance "illogical, totalitarian and profoundly sinister," drawing direct parallels to UKIP’s hardline immigration policies and the UK’s own disastrous use of internment during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.Williams apologized within days, stating: "Everyone has the right to a fair trial and to be heard and I of course do not believe in a dictatorship type of government." But the damage stuck. Critics didn’t just challenge her policy ideas—they questioned whether a reality TV personality should be commenting on national security at all. "Why is she even qualified to say this?" one Twitter user asked, a sentiment echoed across platforms. The Tab noted that sexist attacks also followed, with commenters dismissing her as "just a model" or "not serious enough" to hold political views. That double standard didn’t go unnoticed.
Now, nine years later, the column is back—and it’s not just being shared by critics. It’s being dissected by historians, journalists, and viewers who remember the backlash. This isn’t just about one column. It’s about how society holds public figures accountable, especially women who step outside traditional entertainment roles.
Why This Matters Now: Reality TV as a Mirror
Reality TV has always been a circus. But in 2025, it’s also a courtroom. Viewers don’t just tune in for drama—they demand context. Williams’ arrival didn’t just trigger memes; it triggered a national conversation about accountability, redemption, and the long shelf life of online missteps. Her husband’s story is one of medical ethics and personal failure. Hers is about the dangers of careless language in times of fear. Both are uncomfortable. Both are true.ITV, for its part, hasn’t commented on either controversy. But ratings are up. The first episode after her entry drew 4.2 million viewers, a 17% spike from the previous week. Social media mentions of "Vogue Williams" spiked to 187,000 in 24 hours, according to Brandwatch data. The network knows what it’s broadcasting: not just survival challenges, but moral questions.
What’s Next? Redemption or Reckoning?
Williams has said little publicly since entering the jungle. Her social media remains quiet, save for a single post on November 20: "I’m here to face it all. Bring it on." That’s either brave or naive—depending on who you ask. Meanwhile, her husband has stayed silent, as confirmed by LADbible Group, which reported he’s "focusing on his family and business ventures."What happens if she wins? Will the public forgive her? Will they even care? Or will the internment comments and the steroid scandal become permanent footnotes in her legacy? Reality TV rarely offers clean endings. But this season? It’s asking viewers to decide what kind of redemption, if any, is earned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Spencer Matthews not supporting Vogue in the 2025 series?
Spencer Matthews was forcibly removed from the 2016 I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! after producers discovered he was using anabolic steroids for a charity boxing match. ITV deemed his continued participation a health risk, and he has since publicly acknowledged his mistake. He is not participating in the 2025 series in any official capacity and has chosen not to support Vogue during her time in the jungle, as confirmed by LADbible Group.
What exactly did Vogue Williams say about internment camps in 2017?
In June 2017, following terrorist attacks in London and Manchester, Vogue Williams wrote a column arguing that "internment camps" were a "grim necessity" for national security. She did not specify how they would operate, but her language echoed historical policies criticized for human rights violations. The piece, republished by The Tab in 2025, drew condemnation from journalists and civil rights advocates, who compared it to UKIP’s rhetoric and Northern Ireland’s internment during The Troubles.
Has Vogue Williams apologized for her 2017 comments?
Yes. Within days of the backlash in 2017, she issued a public apology, stating she did not believe in a "dictatorship type of government" and affirmed everyone’s right to a fair trial. However, critics argue the apology was vague and didn’t address the dangerous implications of her original wording. The The Tab noted that her 2025 return to reality TV has reignited questions about whether her apology was sufficient or performative.
How has ITV responded to these controversies?
ITV has not issued any official statement regarding either Spencer Matthews’ 2016 removal or Vogue Williams’ 2017 column. The network has historically avoided commenting on contestants’ past behavior unless it directly impacts production safety. However, the 2025 series has seen record social media engagement, suggesting ITV may be leveraging the controversy for viewership without taking a public stance.
Are there parallels between this and other reality TV controversies?
Yes. In 2018, Katie Hopkins faced backlash for comments on immigration during I'm A Celebrity, leading to her early exit. In 2021, Danniella Westbrook was criticized for past drug use. But Williams’ case is unique: it combines a spouse’s past medical disqualification with her own politically charged history—making it a rare double-layered reckoning rarely seen in reality TV.