Amir Khan found himself with some explaining to do last night after QUITTING the first Bushtucker Trial of I’m A Celebrity over his fear of snakes.
But as soon as the episode aired, a picture began doing the rounds on social media showing him striking a casual pose next to a large Burmese python, seeming to not have a care in the world.
Naturally it led to cries of ‘fake, fake, fake!’ with viewers accusing Amir of making up his snake phobia to justify pulling the plug on the trial and boost his airtime.
One fan tweeted: “Think Amir is playing a game so fake? He knows the show also pictured with a snake beside him but said he was terrified? Trying to get more screen time.”
Read more: Two new I’m A Celebrity contestants confirmed
So, what’s the truth?
Well, the woman who owned the Burmese python in the photo has now come out in Amir’s defence to say that he WAS scared of her beloved pet snake Slinky.
Speaking to The Mirror, former Britain’s Got Talent star Georgie Leahy explained: “I remember him being a bit scared of Slinky, and one of the guys was like, no, do it, you’ve got to get a picture.
“I do remember he was scared – he doesn’t look it in the picture.
“You can tell Slinky really likes him because he’s got his tongue out. Slinky was really excited to meet him.”
Georgie appeared with Slinky – who is sadly no longer alive – on the 2011 series of Britain’s Got Talent alongside the group Girls Roc.
The photo, taken at a London nightclub, began doing the rounds on social media on Monday night, and was even brought to the attention of I’m A Celeb hosts Ant & Dec.
After Amir’s failed Bushtucker Trial, one viewer tweeted the snap at them with the caption: “He ain’t that scared, lads. Messer!”
Ant & Dec replied with a shocked face emoji.
Amir made his phobia of snakes, spiders and heights perfectly clear when he arrived in the jungle – and seemed somewhat shocked that he’d been forced to face a snake in his first Bushtucker Trial.
In the challenge, called Critter-Cal Rescue, Amir had to navigate a series of dark underground chambers to find eight keys that would allow him to rescue Georgia Toffolo, who was locked in a chamber filled with bugs nearby.
He managed to get the first couple of keys but his downfall came when faced with three small holes in the wall; he had to stick his hand into the holes to retrieve a key.
One of the holes contained a snake and unfortunately for Amir, he ended up pulling the whole snake through the hole rather than just the key. Hence him quitting!
Read more: Amir Khan mocked by wife over I’m A Celeb trial failure
He told Ant & Dec afterwards: “I can’t believe you made me do this. I did say on the show before that I’m afraid of snakes.”
Ant replied: “Why do you think they’re in there?”
I’m A Celebrity airs nightly at 9pm on ITV.