Former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Hollie Arnold has slammed Ant and Dec for making online abuse “worse” with a recurring joke.
In 2020, the 28-year-old made history as the first disabled star to appear on the show.
The presenting duo, who are known for making a gag and running with it for the duration of the series, made one out of Hollie using her MBE title to introduce herself to her fellow campmates.
Hollie claims she has received hurtful comments because of the recurring joke which made her feel “ashamed”.
She told The UK Sun: “I received so much abuse and read all of this horrible nonsense online. People thought I was above myself but I’m literally the most chilled and laidback person ever.”
“Ant and Dec made that even worse and played on it, I got so much hate from people who didn’t know me. It got to the point where I took my MBE title off Instagram because it made me feel so ashamed.”
“For the time being I’m using PLY – for Paralympian – but I shouldn’t have to, I should feel proud of what I have achieved.”
Asked whether she had received an apology from Ant and Dec, Hollie revealed: “No, I haven’t. You know that you are ‘fair game’ on the show but it would have been better if they said, ‘She didn’t mean it like that.'”
“Unfortunately, when you go on these shows you expose yourself and online trolls are very hurtful.”
Hollie, who received her MBE as part of the 2017 New Year Honours list, revealed she was instructed to introduce herself as “Hollie Arnold MBE” by the camera crew.
“Whenever we were filming I was told to introduce myself with my title,” she said. “Because I had never been on a TV show before, I thought I had to say it again.”
“It made me look like I go around flaunting my MBE, which I don’t,” Hollie reflected. “It was completely taken out of perspective.”
The 28-year-old revealed Sir Mo Farah nearly introduced himself with his honorary title as well, explaining: “Shane Richie accidentally interrupted him so he didn’t get to say his full name and title.”
“I thought I would have needed to because no one knew who I was – I’m not a major celebrity like Shane Richie or Beverly Callard.”
“I do wish I could take that back knowing I didn’t need to say what I was told to say.”
