Dancing On Ice star Gemma Collins and judge Jason Gardiner are reportedly being “kept apart” for the show’s finale tonight, after sparring throughout the season.
The pair have been at loggerheads over the past few weeks, to the point that the TOWIE star was on the point of refusing to return to the show.
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After weeks of hitting out at each other in the press, Jason seemed to take things too far, with what seemed to be a body-shaming comment during an appearance on This Morning.
When he was asked if Gemma would be returning to the show, he replied “Who? I thought that was a refrigerator.”
Host Phillip Schofield then claimed that Gemma had said the pair had become friends, which Jason dismissed.
“She said it,” Jason responded. “I don’t hold a grudge, I don’t really know the woman at all.”
He later claimed that his comment wasn’t a dig a Gemma’s size, but a reference to her diva alter-ego, The GC.
“I was not calling Gemma a refrigerator it was meant as a light hearted joke when Phillip said the “GC” which sounds like a white goods brand. What has happened to having a SoH?” he tweeted.
Gemma responded to the comment in an Instagram posts, calling Jason a bully.
“I’m really tired of being BULLIED by this man,” she said. “I wish you would stop.”
She went on to say the comment made her feel reluctant to return to the show.
“[He’s] making me feel uncomfortable to come back to the final on Sunday ! I was looking forward to Sunday but won’t be anywhere near someone who’s BULLYING me. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE on any level—comparing any human to an electrical appliance is not acceptable #STANDUPTOBULLIES”
Gemma confirmed that she almost pulled out of the finale, during an appearance on The Jonathan Ross show last night, but claimed she decided not to let Jason stop her.
“Do you know what, I did pull out and then I thought for everyone that has supported me, and for my own self esteem, I am not going to back down to anybody,” she said.
“I am going to walk back on that show on Sunday night and I am going to skate like it’s the last day of my life.”
But a show insider claims that the tensions between the two have caused enough concern that show bosses are making sure they don’t come into contact behind the scenes.
According to The Sun, Gemma’s dressing room is far away from Jason’s to minimise the chance that they’ll see each other backstage.
“Gemma and Jason will be kept separate so they won’t be crossing paths backstage tonight,” their source said.
“There is still no love lost between them.
“Their dressing rooms are on opposite sides of the venue so hopefully there won’t be any more explosions between them.”
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Gemma and her pro-partner Matt Evers were the fifth team to be eliminated on the show, after receiving the lowest score.
Tonight’s final sees Love Island’s Wes Nelson, singer Saara Aalto and Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan competing to win the competition.
Entertainment Daily has contacted reps for Jason and Gemma for comment on this story.
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