In a hilariously candid takedown, I’m A Celebrity legend Boy George has thrown some serious shade at the BBC’s hit show Celebrity Traitors, admitting he turned it down flat for one brutally honest reason: the paycheck just wasn’t juicy enough.
The iconic Karma Chameleon singer, who famously ventured into the Australian jungle back in 2022 and pocketed a jaw-dropping sum for his troubles, spilled the tea in an exclusive chat with The Sun. When quizzed if he’d been approached for the celebrity spin-off of The Traitors, Boy George didn’t mince words: “They may have done, but there are too many people, plus they don’t pay enough.”
NINTCHDBPICT001037767449
Planet Hollywood Times Square Grand Opening
Ouch! And as for whether he’s even tuned in to the drama-filled series? “No. I’ll probably do that thing of watching it all in one go,” he confessed. “I’m too busy to watch TV.” But he did drop a quirky fun fact: “Although, Alan Carr and I share the same birthday – along with Donald Trump.”
This savage swipe comes hot on the heels of Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler’s eye-opening reveal about his own payday for the show’s debut season. The rugby powerhouse, 35, dished that he scored £30,000 for his stint – a figure that varied among the cast, but one he wasn’t complaining about.
Boy George’s high standards make perfect sense when you peek at his I’m A Celeb haul. Three years ago, the pop star raked in over £800,000 for braving the bugs and bushtucker trials on the ITV smash. An insider from the network told The Sun at the time: “Boy will be telly gold and both the producers and he knew that. It meant they were going to pay a lot for him and he could afford to say no unless the money was right.”
They added: “In the end, the money got into silly territory and he couldn’t really refuse. Nearly a million dollars is a huge amount to anyone, no matter how famous you are.” The source even noted that Boy George shattered records, outpacing Noel Edmonds as the show’s priciest signing ever. “Everyone wanted to sign him. Producers feel like he’s the cherry on the top of this series and can’t wait to see him in action.”
Earlier today, Joe Marler got real about the pay rumors in an interview with The Times. His wife Daisy had spotted a report claiming he’d bagged £40,000, prompting her to grill him: “Hold on, I thought you only got 30?” Joe confirmed it was indeed £30k, adding, “I don’t think everyone got paid the same. But I’m not bothered. It was 30 grand whether you lasted two days or three weeks – a no-brainer.”
Joe quickly became a breakout star, winning over fans with his no-holds-barred hunt for the Traitors – even if his detective skills fell hilariously short. Many viewers assumed the Faithfuls walked away empty-handed after failing to sniff out the deceivers, but that’s not the full story. While lone Traitor Alan Carr scooped the entire £87,500 prize pot (which went straight to his chosen charity), every celeb contestant got a tidy appearance fee – though the exact amounts remain under wraps.
From jungle riches to reality TV snubs, Boy George’s unfiltered honesty proves he’s still the king of keeping it real. Will he ever binge-watch The Traitors? Only time will tell – but one thing’s for sure: if the price isn’t right, count him out!