Jake Quickenden has reacted angrily to a social media post that criticised his looks while cautioning others to ‘please be careful’ when discussing someone’s weight.
The 35-year-old former Dancing On Ice winner turned to Instagram to respond to a social media post that labelled him ‘gaunt’ during recent televised appearances.
The Facebook post included various pictures of The X Factor star appearing on television, with the caption: ‘What’s happened to Jake Quickenden? He looks so gaunt! Hope he’s ok.’
Jake was quick to repost this on his Instagram page with a stark warning for those talking about his appearance, and others.
‘Please be careful commenting on people’s weight I know sometimes it comes from a good place but you never know what someone is going through and a comment can really set people back if struggling,’ he began in the caption.
He went on to explain why he was in the images, saying he was ‘training hard’ for an upcoming MMA battle against fellow comic Paul Smith.
‘I’ve been training hard, working a lot and been ill recently I also have to make weight for my fight coming up which is alot lower than I walk about at,’ he continued.
‘I’m fine and as soon as the fight over I will return to my normal weight, it’s not sustainable and I’m miserable and hungry most the time. Life is to be enjoyed and have everything in moderation which I haven’t been doing.
‘But whether you think someone is fat, too thin, looking gaunt etc just don’t say anything as you don’t know what they could be going through. Cheers ❤️.’
It comes as the I’m A Celebrity runner-up revealed the sad last words he uttered to his younger brother before his untimely death, as well as how exercise has helped him cope with sorrow.
Oliver died in 2012 from bone cancer, with Jake revealing what he spoke to his sibling only hours before.
‘My mum phoned and said Oliver’s taken a turn for the worse, so I went round to his house. Oliver was just shutting down and I had my last conversation with him,’ he told The Mirror.
‘I told him I loved him and he kind of came round and told me he loved me. About half an hour later he was gone. It was as quick as that and traumatising and upsetting for everybody.’
He went on to discuss the impact his brother’s death had on him, which happened just four years after his father Paul died.
‘I think it’s one of the reasons why I get health anxiety. It took me years to process the fact not every lump, not every headache is going to be [cancer],’ he continued.
‘Now I can think about all the happy times I had with my brother and my old man, so it becomes more bearable. It never gets easier, but I’ve found ways that help me to deal with my grief. Fitness is a huge one.’
