Celebs Go Dating has made an explosive return to our screens with an incredible line-up.
So it’s no surprise that there have been a few controversial moments that have been stirring up the drama both on and off camera. This series the 2024 Celebs Go Dating stars looking for love include: Helen Flanagan, Tristan Phipps, Stephen Lustig-Webb, Jamelia, Ella Morgan, Chris Taylor and Lauryn Goodman.
We take a look at the most controversial moments so far from the 2024 Celebs Go Dating series that have happened on camera and behind the scenes of the E4 dating show…
Read more: Celebs Go Dating 2024 line-up in full
Stephen Webb gets the ‘worst feedback’
Gogglebox star Stephen Webb got the “worst feedback” in Celebs Go Dating, according to their Viewers social media account. This week one of his dates Dean called Webb out on his “totally inappropriate” behaviour from their date.
Dean told Webb: “Stephen was overtly sexual… Innuendos from the very first minute. You said some things that were totally inappropriate to me.” He added: “When you thought you weren’t getting reciprocation in the same way, you then started to say I was ‘boring’ and you turned on me before trying to humiliate me.”
Dating expert Paul Carrick Brunson delivered some harsh truths to the celebrity about his behaviour on the dating scene too. He told him: “Stephen, I say this with love. But it is clear that you are selfish, crude and close-minded. You will not be successful in life if you continue this way.”
Last week, his ex partner Daniel Lustig defended Webb saying he was not a “creep”.
He told MailOnline: “I have known Stephen for 11 years. He has only ever shown me kindness and been very generous… This is Stephen’s first show out of Gogglebox I’m sure he was a little nervous too.
“Since I’ve known him he has helped people out in charities, gone to hospitals to visit people who have been fans of the show. This is not the signs of a ‘creep’. He raises money tirelessly for the not forgotten without asking anything in return.”
Read more: Celebs Go Dating’s Stephen Webb confronted over “worst feedback” in show history (Digital Spy, 2-min read)
Helen Flanagan has a secret boyfriend
All the celebrities must be single while taking part in Celebs Go Dating where the stars go on dates with “normal” people. It come to light that Flanagan was secretly dating former footballer Robbie Talbot after she had spoken openly about her struggle to date following her split from Scott Sinclair, the father of her three children. Their romance had broken down after 13 years together.
TV bosses were surprised to find out Flanagan had a footballer boyfriend outside of the show but instead of kicking her off, they invited him to meet the agents as part of Celebs Go Dating. The drama will all play out in episode 10 of the show.
A Celebs Go Dating spokesperson said: “During the filming of Celebs Go Dating, the executive producers discovered that Helen Flanagan was in a relationship outside of the CGD process. Once this came to light, Helen was asked to be transparent with the agents and her fellow celebrities during her next filming day.
“As per the show’s guidelines, all participating celebrities must be single. After discussing the situation, it was decided that Helen and her partner, Robbie, would meet with the agents to assess their compatibility, and Helen would no longer date members of the public. These developments will be featured on the show starting from episode 10.” Yahoo reached out for further comment.
Read more: Helen Flanagan’s new man? (Bang showbiz, 2-min read)
Chris Taylor’s date demands no female friends
Celebs Go Dating fans were outraged when Chris Taylor’s date Sukaina said she wouldn’t like him to have female friends if they were in a relationship. However, the Love Island star shut down her comments as he said a lot of his friends are girls.
He said: “I have a lot of girlfriends, friends that are girls, I personally couldn’t be with somebody that wouldn’t let me have friends that are girls because for me that’s coming from a place of mistrust. I shut down at that point because that is such a misalignment on values, I can’t see this going any further right now.”
Sukaina responded: “I just felt like he’d shut down and didn’t give me a chance at all after that friend comment, it was like you just didn’t want to know.” As a result, Taylor decided to call it quits and not go on another date with Sukaina.
On one side of the argument, people wrote on Instagram: “The no female friends thing is a very controlling & insecure demand. It would be an instant massive red flag for me. Instant end of date material for most people.”
“He said nothing wrong she just didn’t like how fast he made up his mind. I wouldn’t like it if a guy said I couldn’t have male friends.”
“Team Chris on this. It might come across as aggressive and curt but if you know it’s an absolute instant deal breaker, what’s the point of pretending it’s not? Too many timewasters in the dating pool, nodding and smiling then ghosting you.”
However, someone else countered: “It’s not a sign of insecurity ..absolute nonsense .your mam is your man simple!!! Associates, colleges etc. ..I bet he’d change his tune of it was reversed!!! Red flag. .no wonder he’s single all the time. I like him alot!!! But he needs to get over himself, will go a lot further.”
Ella Morgan nearly quit Celebs Go Dating
Before the show had even begun airing on our TV screens, Married At First Sight star Ella Morgan admitted she nearly quit Celebs Go Dating after a “triggering” experience.
She said on Instagram at the time: “I nearly quit the other day because it was just getting so much. It was quite triggering. I don’t know what I expected going into this. I thought it was going to be a bit of a breeze, a walk in the park. It’s so soon into filming, which is why I’m like, ‘woah, what else is there to come out? How else am I going to feel about myself?’
“I think this has all stemmed from the brunch the other day. Obviously I’m not going to go into detail. I’m probably not allowed to and I don’t want to get into trouble. Since ‘MAFS’ I’ve been working on myself and I thought – because I haven’t dated since then – that I’ve conquered it and it’s going to be so easy, but I’m realising there’s still more work to be done on myself.”
In dramatic scenes that aired this week, Morgan walked out of a brunch where she met with Brunson, Anna Williamson and Dr Tara Suwinyattichaiporn. The MAFS star said she had done “sexual stuff” with her date Rhys, while her date revealed his reasons for keeping it private. After hearing the nice things Rhys had said about her, she was left overcome with emotion.
