I’m a Celebrity’s Jack Vidgen admits he had a tearful reunion with his mother after leaving the jungle – and says going on the show was ‘really healing’ for them after a few difficult years
It was one of the most emotional moments on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
During his time on the show, Jack Vidgen broke down in tears while speaking about his complex relationship with his mother, Rachel Hayton.
The singer, 24, has now revealed that he had an emotional reunion with his mum after leaving the jungle and said his experience on the show had ‘healed’ their rift.
Healing moment: In a candid interview on TV Reload with Benjamin Norris podcast, Jack Vidgen explained that his relationship with his mother Rachel Hayton (left) has been healed after the two shed ‘tears’ together upon his exit from I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here
‘I think it’s been really healing for us, she was in tears… and so was I,’ he said on the TV Reload podcast, hosted by Benjamin Norris.
He added that their relationship had been strained for years because he felt like he was ‘parenting myself’ as a teenager after winning Australia’s Got Talent and becoming his family’s breadwinner overnight.
Jack had echoed these sentiments on I’m a Celebrity when he spoke to his campmates about how much he was missing his mother in the jungle.
Regrets: Jack said he ‘resented’ the responsibility that fell on his shoulders when he won AGT, but now regrets how he treated his mother as a teenager
In an emotional confession, Jack revealed how the ‘power dynamic’ between him and Rachel changed when he won AGT at the age of 14.
Speaking to co-star Jess Eva, Jack said he ‘resented’ the responsibility that fell on his shoulders, but now regrets how he treated his mother as a teenager.
‘I miss my mum,’ he said. ‘She’s always worked three or four jobs just to keep a roof over our head.
Back in the day: Jack rose to fame as a fresh-faced teenager on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011
‘Our relationship has been hard over the years. When I won [AGT], our dynamic completely switched and I was the breadwinner.’
Jack went on to say that he ‘almost felt like I was parenting myself’.
‘I have so much resentment now that I can’t control. I think in here I’m just reflecting on how I wish I’d treated her better,’ he added.
Looking back on his experience on the show, Jack told TV Reload: ‘Unless you’re doing a trial or a challenge, time in the jungle is for reflection.
‘I’ve always been an advocate for therapy, I’ve been going to therapy for years now.’
Jack said another benefit of the show was him being able to portray his true personality, adding that viewers responded positively to him because ‘people don’t buy bulls**t’.
I’m a Celebrity continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel 10
Jungle thoughts: In hindsight, Jack told podcast host Benjamin Norris, ‘Unless you’re doing a trial or a challenge, time in the jungle is for reflection’