Anne Hegerty's Fans Respond To Criticism Of Her Diva Behaviour With An Important Explanation
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Featured Image Credit: ITV
Sunday night saw the launch of ITV's I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, and a whole new bunch of famous faces face the extremes of the Australian jungle. And, predictably, it was only a matter of hours before it all became too much for one camp mate.
The Chase's Anne Hegerty broke down in tears after arriving at Snake Rock, admitting she wasn't sure if she'd be able to continue with the show.
During a full day of challenges to decide which team would get to live in the main camp, Anne, who lives with Asperger syndrome, was forced to blindly stick her hand in a full box of spiders and crabs before swimming across a lake.
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When Anne's team lost and were sent to Snake Rock to sleep on the floor and eat basic rations, she was reduced to tears, prompting some viewers to compare her to TOWIE diva, Gemma Collins, who quit after three days in 2014.
"I think Anne is going to be the next Gemma Collins," one wrote, while another added: "She's having a Gemma Collins breakdown."
However many fans were quick to remind her critics that Anne lives with Asperger syndrome, a form of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which affects a person's social interactions and communications.
Anne's fellow chaser, Jenny Ryan, took to Twitter to say how 'proud' she is of The Governess for stepping out of her comfort zone and being 'incredibly brave and challenging herself.'
Oh come on Jenny she is getting well paid and it's hardly Bear Grylls survival https://t.co/BRAfuteApR
- Andy B #ForTheManyNotTheFew (@WordyGurdyMan) November 18, 2018
However, when a viewer responded saying "it's hardly Bear Grylls survival," The Vixen was forced to explain exactly why Anne is so brave for opting to go in the jungle.
"Anne has Asperger's Syndrome which has a positive benefit on her quizzing ability but also means that a lot of things that us Neurotypicals don't think twice about are incredibly difficult and stressful for her," she explained.
"It's so much more of a challenge for the Governess than you presume."
Another sympathetic viewer added: "People tweeting about Anne being this years Gemma Collins, she is not a diva like Gemma. She has asperger's so here's just a little paragraph to explain why she may struggle more than most."
This included an image which said: "People with Asperger syndrome see, hear and feel the world differently to other people.
"If you have Asperger syndrome, you have it for life - it is not an illness or disease and cannot be 'cured'.
"Often people feel that Asperger syndrome is a fundamental aspect of their identity."
Topics: TV News, TV Entertainment, I'm A Celebrity