Athletes and sports media react to Bernard Tomic’s exit from I’m A Celeb

DANE Swan and Ryan Fitzgerald are among a host of prominent sports figures to weigh in on Bernard Tomic quitting I’m A Celeb.

MANY athletes have been unsympathetic to Bernard Tomic after his decision to quit I’m A Celeb, including AFL star and former contestant on the show Dane Swan.

Swan was one of a number of sports figures to point out Tomic was letting down his chosen charity, Ronald McDonald House, by failing to stay in South Africa and battle for a $100,000 prize.

“Ya got millions Tomic so while your (sic) busy counting it all when you get back home how’s bout you donate 10k to your charity that have missed out on much needed $$$” Swan tweeted. “You won’t miss it. That’s all, jog on now bud.”

Basketball star Andrew Bogut shared Swan’s lack of sympathy, floating a conspiracy that Tomic’s short appearance in the jungle was an orchestrated ploy by Channel 10.

A “depressed” Tomic said he wants to return to tennis after bringing his stint on the Channel Ten show to an early end. The 25-year-old said his short time in the jungle had brought into focus what he really wanted to do with his life.

“Half the time during the day, I’m just depressed,” he told fellow contestant Jackie Gillies.

“I’ve never really had time to think about my thoughts. I’ve always had people around, my mobile phone ... everything was so fast-paced.

“Everything’s slowed down in the last few days. I don’t want to spend half my time depressed here ... thinking about how I played last year and where I should be.”

“I wasted this whole last year of not playing a lot of tennis and being professional. I need to be competing and playing in what I do best and that’s why I’ve decided to leave.”

This is how the sports world reacted to the bombshell.

ATHLETES

Tomic 1mil up front. Already left? News everywhere about it? Marketing/strategy team A+. Could be wrong, but I think it’s all orchestrated.

— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) January 30, 2018

Spin off - The Biggest Loser has announced contestant Bernie! Can they help get his career back on track.....??? The suspense!

— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) January 30, 2018

Wasnt a shot at Bernie. C10 not fooling me...! https://t.co/r76YcJBokb

— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) January 30, 2018

Ya got millions Tomic so while your busy counting it all when you get back home how’s bout you donate 10k to your charity that have missed out on much needed $$$. You won’t miss it. That’s all, jog on now bud

— Dane Swan (@swandane) January 30, 2018

Spoke very well Bernard Tomic, like he always does after getting knocked out in the first round. #ImACelebrityAU

— Ryan Fitzgerald (@FitzySA) January 30, 2018

Tomic was in there for Ronald McDonald House. A magnificent organisation that do amazing things for people that never give up even tho things are bloody hard for them. Maybe he should get in there, work for free for a while and see how to react to true hardship. #ImACelebrityAU

— Scotty Cummings (@ScottyCummings_) January 30, 2018

Seeing Bernard Tomic on #ImACelebrityAU has confirmed that he clearly needs help. Not ridicule. Simply just a kid that’s battling some form of depression and happens to be good at tennis @beyondblue

— Sarah Walsh (@swalshy9) January 30, 2018

Pretty weak effort from #Tomic, throws the towel in once again. #ImACelebrityAU https://t.co/18rAejzdtA

— Zac Purton (@zpurton) January 30, 2018

SPORTS MEDIA

I don't think I've ever seen a more confused 25 year old than Bernie Tomic. Someone close to him needs to help.

— Travis Meyn (@travismeyn) January 30, 2018

Bernard Tomic quits #ImACelebrityAU.

So much for “showing the real me.”

Or, a case of once quitter always a....

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) January 30, 2018

I’m with Tomic. Who’d want to be stuck in a jungle with half of that crew?

— peter ryan (@petryan) January 30, 2018

I’m probably always going to support Tomic and there’s nothing I can do about it 💁🏼‍♀️

— Hayley Byrnes (@HayleyByrnes) January 30, 2018

I hope Bernard Tomic gets the help he needs. I’m not sure reality TV is ever the answer to kickstarting a professional sporting career. #Tomic #tennis #ATP https://t.co/fEduzCPu9y

— Elise Holman (@Elise_Holman) January 30, 2018

Hope people can step back & think about the Tomic situation. He has just said on national TV that he is depressed. He also apologised for letting people down & quitting 'I'm a Celebrity' but that he has the "energy" to get back playing tennis. I'm wishing him well #ImACelebrityAU

— James Willoughby (@jwilloughby26) January 30, 2018

Earlier on Tuesday, Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt told a press conference that a return to the Davis Cup fold appeared “highly doubtful” for the troubled star.

Prior to the announcement that Tomic was leaving the jungle former teammate Sam Groth said the former world No.17 was “not in a good place”.

“He’s definitely in a strange place. I think a lot of people tuned into TV the last few nights just to see where he’s at ... he’s not in a good place,” Groth told Melbourne radio station SEN.

“You watch what he’s talking about on TV and I think it fully reflects all the stuff that he’s probably dealing with. I’m not sure going off into the jungle is the way to go.

“I think he’s got some deep-seated issues that he needs to talk to someone with. Whatever he’s struggling with right now, I don’t know if coming back on the tennis court is really going to help.”

— with AAP

Australian readers seeking support and information about depression can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.