‘I MESSED UP’
I’m A Celeb… star Jack Maynard breaks silence after jungle axe and says: “I’ve said some disgusting things. I’m ashamed’.
I’M A Celeb’s Jack Maynard has apologised to fans and revealed how “ashamed” he is of the homophobic and racist tweets he sent.
The vlogger sensationally left the jungle this week after vile tweets he had previously posted emerged, and in an emotional video he has faced up to his past.
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Speaking today, on his 23rd birthday, he said: "I’m sorry to anyone that I upset, anyone that I offended, anyone I made feel uncomfortable.
"Growing up I was all over social, my entire life was on social media an through that it led to be my job.
"I've tweeted some bad things, some horrible things, that I’m just ashamed of.
"I never wanted to make anything like this, I feel like I’ve let you guys down so much, I was young, I was stupid, I was careless I just wasn’t thinking.
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"This was back when I just left school and I don’t know what I was thinking. I was stupid, I said some really inconsiderate things.
"Growing up online is hard and I just beg that you don’t make the same mistakes as I did."
He added: “I was young back then, I had nothing, I wasn’t doing anything, and that’s not an excuse whatsoever.”
Becoming emotional he said: “I’m so gutted and I’m embarrassed, I’m so embarrassed that all of this has happened now.”
He went on to thank his fans their support.
“You’ve constantly had my back. The support I’ve seen online from all of you is so overwhelming, so I want to thank you all for that."
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However Jack failed to address headlines that he had asked a 14-year-old girl for nude pictures when he was 16.
On Tuesday, November 21, Ant and Dec shocked viewers by saying Jack had left the show.
As the duo made the announcement, a statement was released by the YouTube star's spokesperson.
While it did not make specific reference to Jack's controversial tweets it did point to a "succession of media stories" he had been unable to respond to.
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The full statement read: "In the last few days Jack has been the subject of a succession of media stories which, given his position as a contestant on 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' - filmed in the Australian jungle, with no contact with the outside world, he has been unable to respond to.
"Since it is only fair that everyone should be aware of any allegations made against them and should also have the right to defend themselves, it was agreed that it would be better to bring him out of the show.
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"Jack agrees with this decision which was made by his representatives and ITV and thanks everyone who has supported him in the show this far."
Since he left the show it has been revealed Jack was kicked off the show after he asked a 14-year-old girl to send him nude pictures.
In the messages, Jack, who says he was just 16 at the time and unaware of the girl’s age, asked to “see her boobs” and told her she would look good in “a bra shot”.
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Speaking to The Sun, the girl who is now 20, said: "He was 16, I was 14. It was something that happens to everyone.
"I never once felt harassed. We were kids, it's not once harmed me at all in any way. It's in the past. It is a serious allegation to make, but you’re a kid, you make mistakes.
"He didn’t know how old I was, and I didn’t know how old he was at the time. I cannot stress enough that the messages were harmless."
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