Ant and Dec ‘begged GK Barry to sign up for I’m A Celeb’ as she revealed only reason she’d do show
I’M A Celeb star GK Barry was ‘begged’ to come on the show by presenters Ant and Dec in a previous interview.
GK Barry, who has become hugely well known on TikTok and social media, previously featured on an Instagram live with Ant and Dec where fans begged to see her enter the jungle.
The YouTube star, who is now confirmed to be part of the full 2024 jungle line-up, had joked to the Geordie duo that she’d join I’m A Celebrity for one reason.
GK Barry, who’s real name is Grace Keeling, laughed on the Instagram live as she told the pair: “Listen, if there’s pound signs involved – absolutely!”
Whilst she has been confirmed to be in the upcoming series of the ITV show, she’s also now facing a backlash over controversial comments on her recent Saving Grace podcast.
The star was slammed for comments deemed to be “harmful” after her chat with Only Fans creator Bonnie Blue, who recently made headlines for bedding a series of University students during Fresher’s Week and for boasting about sleeping with a dad and his son.
Backlash over the interview with Bonnie and GK’s comments have now seen GK in the midst of an “absolute PR nightmare” according to a source.
A source revealed to The Sun that GK’s recent podcast has caused concern for ITV bosses.
They shared: “I’m A Celeb is a family show and they can’t have anyone on there who agrees with sleeping with barely 18 years olds.
“The top brass have held crisis talks as to how they handle the backlash with GK enters the show.
“GK has deleted the video but the furore hasn’t gone away.
“The backlash is already huge on YouTube and social media this is an absolute PR nightmare for ITV.
“They rely on advertisers wanting to spend money on the show and it’s not a good look when one of the campmates has had someone so controversial on her podcast and agreed with everything she said.”
The Sun has approached ITV for comment.
Fans have also pushed back on GK Barry for her Bonnie Blue interview, as they accused the podcast host of platforming “harmful behaviour” and a being “disgrace to feminism“.
Thousands have shared their concerns that her 3.6million TikTok followers are largely under 20 – and questioned jungle bosses decision to sign her up for ITV’s family friend show.
One wrote online: “Her audience is 13-20 year old girls. Young and impressionable. This is not the message young girls should be hearing. We need to start de-platforming.”
Another added: “GK Barry having bonnie blue on her pod and AGREEING with the harmful s*** she was saying is beyond disappointing. Do better babe.”