Tom Arnold files a lawsuit against Network Ten over I’m A Celeb contract

US COMEDIAN Tom Arnold is accusing Network Ten of defrauding him into signing up for the jungle reality show.

FORMER I’m A Celeb castmate Tom Arnold has officially filed a lawsuit against Network Ten, claiming they defrauded him into blocking off his summer work schedule for a comedy tour that didn’t go ahead.

The comedian appeared on the most recent season of the reality TV show, and claims he’s still owed $US140,000 for his stint in the jungle.

According to Arnold, he signed up for the jungle and a follow-up tour in exchange for a total payment of $US425,000.

It’s no secret the reality series — based in the South African jungle — is no picnic for contestants, but Arnold claims Ten enticed him to sign up with the offer of an Australian comedy tour to make up for the “significant personal inconvenience and hardship to its celebrity participants”.

But the tour never happened, and he’s now suing Network Ten and A-List Entertainment for fraudulent and negligent misrepresentation and breach of oral contract.

However, Network Ten has hit back, claiming the agreed deal was done and dusted.

“All amounts owed to Tom Arnold by Network Ten have been paid. We have fully discharged all our obligations to Tom Arnold. And we have received no notice of any legal proceedings,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.

Speaking to Kyle and Jackie O this morning, entertainment reporter Peter Ford revealed he’d actually spoken to Arnold in the wake of the lawsuit.

“He called me last night and look, he’s a very reasonable guy, but he’s like a dog with a bone. Once he’s on a mission, he won’t let go,” he told the hosts.

Ford added that he even pointed out to Arnold that Network Ten’s current financial woes meant a lot of the people he’d worked with on the show may soon be unemployed.

“He said ‘I feel really bad about that, but that’s why I wanted this [the lawsuit] settled three months ago, not now,’” he revealed.

Within the lawsuit, Arnold also lashed out at Ten for its portrayal of him on the show.

Arnold was largely panned for his attitude during the series, and was considered by many as the most miserable Celeb contestant ever.

He was the first contestant booted off the show. Picture: Channel 10

According to him, that was due to negative editing — and he blames the show’s producers for purposely making him look bad and downplaying his comedic moments.

“Network Ten ensured Arnold that its depiction of Arnold on the Program would not endanger the Australian comedy tour,” claimed his lawyer Marty Singer.

But Arnold alleges that Ten backed out of the tour and refused to cough up the remainder of the agreed pay deal.

“It was agreed orally and confirmed in writing that the guaranteed compensation to be paid for the two engagements — as a package — would be $425,000,” explained Singer. “Plaintiffs agreed to the deal and blocked off Arnold’s schedule in prime summer months when he typically receives his best engagements and highest compensation.”

Originally published as Tom Arnold files a lawsuit against Network Ten over I’m A Celeb contract