When Perez Hilton entered I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! as an intruder, he shocked his fellow campmates when he filled them in on #Megxit, which had occurred while they were in the jungle, oblivious.
And despite only being in the South African jungle for eight days before he was eliminated, Perez also missed hearing about global news events, including the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others in a fatal helicopter crash.
Following his exit from the show, Perez, 41, shared what it was like to learn the heartwrenching news about Kobe and spoke candidly about his own tough I’m A Celeb moments as well as missing his family back home in Los Angeles.
Perez lost 4.5 kilos in eight days while in the jungle.
(Image: Network Ten)Perez on why he’s happy to leave the I’m A Celeb jungle
When I left, I left in a puff of pink smoke. I could not wait to get out and I said thank you Australia. And I really sincerely meant it.
I went into it aware that I was an intruder and also went in into it in the grander scheme of things, aware of my role on the show. I viewed my experience as this was “I’m a Celebrity… Get me Out of Here: featuring special celebrity guest star Perez Hilton.” I was what they call “stunt casting”!
The celebrities still in there are far more deserving to stay in there. They suffered, they put in the work. And then on a personal level, I think Australia got it right.
WATCH: Perez Hilton shares video message on Instagram after being kicked off I’m A Celeb. Story continues below…
Perez on his staggering weight loss
I was in there for eight days but in eight days, I lost 4.5 kilos. Nutritionists say that it’s extremely unhealthy to lose more than a pound a day and in eight days I lost 10 – so that’s extremely unhealthy. That goes to show you, this show is real.
It’s not fake – they’re really not giving you that much food. I called my mom, that’s the first thing I did when I got out and she was going through a lot of mental anguish watching me go through the trials and just seeing me in such a short amount of time visibly slim down so quickly.
I smartly and acutely did not tell her how much weight I lost because I still have a day and half before I’m actually back home in Los Angeles and I don’t want her to have any more anxiety. So on a selfish, personal level, I’m relieved for my mom to be out.
Perez was the seventh person to be eliminated on I’m A Celeb.
(Image: Network Ten)Perez on who he thinks will win I’m A Celeb
I was deeply blessed to have met Miguel Maestre.
I’ve met Oprah, I’ve met Madonna, I’ve met some of the most exceptional human beings alive and he is up there. He is on that level. He is so phenomenal and so inspiring and the clear winner. I really hope Australia get it right again this weekend and Miguel is crowned King of the Jungle.
Celebrity chef Miguel (pictured with Charlotte Crosby) is Perez’s pick to win.
(Image: Network Ten)Perez on the toughest part of being in the jungle
My last day there, I was so unwell that my hunger manifested itself into literal sickness. I had one of the worst headaches of my life. My ears were throbbing. I had to take medicine, I got so sick I had to talk to a psychologist.
It was really refreshing to know that show takes the wellbeing and safety of the participants that seriously. They really look after these people. They don’t want anyone to leave traumatised.
But the brain is a really powerful thing. It can be really rational and really irrational at the same time.
I had the craziest trials but the hardest day there was a day I didn’t even go to trial. It was my brain irrationally not just telling itself it was hungry, I wasn’t hearing that, my brain was saying “You are starving”. I my normal life, I eat a lot of small meals all day and I’m constantly snacking on healthy things. But in the jungle it was just three small meals then an insanely long gap between lunch and dinner. So every day was a struggle to be honest.
Perez on why he doesn’t regret speaking about his feuds with Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga
I, at every single moment, with one exception was truthful in that camp.
The only time I was not truthful was when I played that joke where we all agreed it would be funny to come back after that superhero challenge and pretend we didn’t get any stars. But outside of that joke, every single moment in camp, I was truthful. So I’m a big believer that if you’re being truthful, there’s nothing wrong with sharing your truth.
Perez on finding out about Kobe Bryant’s death straight after his elimination
It makes everything I just said to you pale in comparison. What those celebrities are going through right now and what I experienced was and is hard.
However, immediately after coming out of the jungle I found out the devastating news about Kobe Bryant and his daughter and everybody else’s lives who were tragically cut short in that helicopter crash. It instantly puts everything in perspective. What the celebrities are going through, it’s not life or death. This was. There really are no words for that devastation. That loss. There just are no words.
I was debriefed before I started doing all my radio interviews and I started crying. And it was a good thing because the last thing I want to do is start crying on radio interviews. I’ve already done enough crying in camp.
Kobe Bryant and 13-year-old daughter Gianna tragically died in a helicopter crash.
(Image: Getty)Perez on whether he’s eyeing off any other Aussie TV roles
I have three children. I love what I do. That means two things: I’m a workaholic and I’ve got a lot of bills to pay so I’m realistic so I don’t expect anything else to come of this but if more does come of this, I would love to do it.
Even Network Ten who airs I’m A Celeb, they do Dancing With The Stars, I would happily do that. Even Studio 10, I would happily be a contributor from Los Angeles. Or even I would love to find a way to get a free trip for me and my family to go to Australia.
Perez, his mother and his kids.
(Image: Instagram)Perez on being away from his family
I had to shut that off. It was really hard but I had to not think about it too much because I’m a single dad and I knew that my mother who lives with us is taking care of them but I’m not just a single dad, I’m very involved. I’m such a hands-on parent. I’m the one that takes them to school and puts them to bed and thankfully only one of my three kids started crying when I FaceTimed them this morning.
One of them is also only two so she doesn’t understand, she just kept saying my name. My middle child, the four-year-old started crying but the older one, the boy who’s seven, he just had all these questions about the show and so it was fun to talk to him about that. But I didn’t tell them exactly when I get back because I want to surprise them by picking them up at school.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! continues Tuesday 7.30pm on Network Ten
