The 19th season of "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" kicked off with two separate camps in Australia, gross challenges, and tensions surrounding the unpopular contestant Gil Ofarim. The celebrities divided into two teams competing for stars to earn better food. Dramas erupted even before entry, including accusations against Ofarim over his past.
On Friday evening, twelve German celebrities entered the Australian jungle to compete for a 100,000 euro prize over 17 days. For the first time since 2017, RTL divided the contestants into two teams: The group with Gil Ofarim, Patrick Romer, Umut Tekin, Ariel Hediger, Eva Benetatou, Mirja du Mont, and Hardy Krüger jr. took the main camp, while Samira Yavuz, Simone Ballack, Stephen Dürr, Hubert Fella, and Nicole Belstler-Boettcher were sent to the smaller "Snake Rock" camp. The split caused surprises, as both groups initially thought they were in the wrong camp.
A cloud hung over Gil Ofarim (43) even before entry, due to his 2021 fabricated antisemitism claims at a Leipzig hotel, for which he was fined. Umut Tekin greeted him coolly: "I'll shake your hand out of respect, even though I think what you did is shit." Ariel Hediger said: "I don't think much of him." Ofarim admitted: "The criticism affects you, and I can understand it." He had signed a non-disclosure agreement and couldn't speak freely, he told Hardy Krüger jr.: "I took the blame on myself."
The teams faced challenges: One bungee-jumped into a river (all except Eva Benetatou), the other dug through waste and found two stars. Smuggling attempts failed, including Umut Tekin's lighter hidden in his buttocks, betrayed by Ariel. In camp, a dispute arose when Patrick Romer squashed a cockroach; Ariel scolded: "You're a really disgusting person." The first trial "Die Unfair-Räter" involved gross foods like camel anus. Both teams earned five stars, but Eva Benetatou won the tiebreaker against Hubert Fella by eating a huntsman spider faster, securing six stars for her team. At the fire, they discussed sensitive topics, including cheating allegations against Eva and Samira. High temperatures up to 37°C near Murwillumbah make life harder; many chose pillows as luxury items. On Saturday, Hubert and Ariel face the next trial.
