If you would recall, recently from my end there was an article on Angry Ginge as a contender on the famous “I’m A Celeb” reality TV show on ITV in which he was seen breaking down in tears on live TV after he had seen the photo of his family.
Fast forward to 2 weeks later, the same instance has made headlines again albeit, this time not involving Angry Ginge himself.
Joey Barton, the former England footballer, recently made controversial remarks regarding Angry Ginge’s emotional breakdown on the show during his Common Sense Podcast.
He mocked the 24-year-old YouTuber’s tears and emotional weakness.
He said:
“I’ve seen you cry on the telly! I’ve seen him crying for his ma the other day and I’m like, ‘How old are you?’. He’s only been away for a couple of weeks – it’s not like his ma’s died. Why you crying, honest to God.
“When you get out and watch this Angry Ginge – you’re crying because you haven’t seen your ma for a few weeks – don’t be talking about proper dudes like me in public.
“I’m not saying he’s a bad lad by the way. There was three separate occasions where he broke down in tears. That’s what happens if you’re sitting in your bedroom playing in computer games. Get out, get yourself about.”
As expected, Barton received plenty of backlash for his controversial comments online.
Viewers defended Angry Ginge, contrasting it sharply with with Barton’s history of being an obnoxious character and his violent nature.
Many people called Barton’s words “insensitive,” “dismissive,” and an example of toxic masculinity, especially since Ginge had freely expressed vulnerability on television.
Struggling to understand who his audience is, who watches this shite? https://t.co/FoZEGGTJeR
— JOAT (@joat1917) December 4, 2025
These comments come in support of Ginge at a time where empathy and mental-health support are increasingly prioritized over the “tough-guy” norm. When public figures mock vulnerability, there’s growing backlash.
It also demonstrates how social media and reality-TV exposure can turn personal difficulties into public arguments, particularly when one party has a history of public wrongdoing, raising concerns about authenticity and intent.
This isn’t the first time that Barton, who played for Manchester City, Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle United during his career, has received backlash for his comments regarding Angry Ginge’s actions.
Hitting out at the Sidemen Charity Match, a charity event which Angry Ginge was part of, when a clip of IShowSpeed went viral, the former midfielder wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
“How is Wembley rented out a week before a League Cup Final for the R***** Bowl? F****** embarrassing. Those clowns shouldn’t be anywhere near the hallowed turf. Especially, the big fat f***** in a bandana.” [GiveMeSport]
In response, the current “I’m A Celebrity” star stated:
“He was calling us every name under the sun. At the end of the day, Joey Barton is f***ing slagging us all off, but when I went to Misfits, his son asked me for a photo. I don’t think he actually understands social media. He can sit behind a camera begging it with his greasy f***ing head,”
“The guy’s son’s begging for photos, and yet he wants to start calling us, the guy needs to get a grip of his own f***ing life.”
Joey Barton’s career has been tarnished by frequent violence, harsh conduct, and reckless behaviour. Despite his talent, his long history of controversy has solidified his reputation as impulsive and arrogant.
