Danny Cipriani has shared a cryptic quote after it was revealed he was pulling out of the lead role in this year’s I’m A Celebrity amid the ongoing breakdown of his two-year marriage.
It was believed the ex-England fly-half, 36, would be paid a six-figure sum to appear in the Jungle, but just days before the show was due to air he announced his divorce from wife Victoria.
And the athlete posted an inspiring post on his Instagram Stories on Saturday focused on ‘following your heart’ and ‘being true to yourself’.
The message read: ‘There is one thing I have always known, even when it was buried among the rubble of my mind: it is better to follow your heart and be true to yourself than to follow the rules of others.
“You may not be accepted by everyone, but the rewards, when they finally come, will be so much sweeter than any trophy.”
Drama: Danny Cipriani, 36, posted a cryptic post about ‘following your heart’ and ‘staying true to yourself’ on Instagram on Saturday after pulling out of I’m A Celeb due to the breakdown of his marriage
HeartbreaK: It was believed the ex-England fly-half would be paid a six-figure sum to appear in the Jungle, but just days before the show was due to air he announced his divorce from wife Victoria
He later posted a second story with the message: ‘We are here to show each other God. The portal is each other.’
The star seems to be digging deep after a difficult period in his personal life.
All was going well in the marriage until the summer, but in September relations began to crumble after Victoria, 42, had reservations about lurid content in his autobiography, friends of the couple told MailOnline.
Danny boasted that he slept with three women a day “from porn stars to actresses to girls I meet at the coffee shop” at a time when “threesomes were becoming the norm.”
Since then, the couple have had a series of ‘difficult’ rows over text messages on his phone, with Victoria ‘becoming increasingly unhappy in recent months’ and reportedly split, with divorce lawyers called in.
His relationship problems appear to have thwarted the sportsman’s plans to enter the Jungle.
Sources at ITV confirmed in August that the rugby star would appear on the show and that bosses at the channel were pulling out all the stops to ensure he did.
His name even prompted other participants to participate.
So it came as a surprise when Danny wasn’t announced as part of the official line-up for this series.
Deep: The sportsman took to Instagram Story on Saturday with an inspiring post focused on ‘following your heart’ and ‘being true to yourself’
Inspirational: Later he posted a second story with the message: ‘We are here to show each other God. The portal is each other’
For example: Danny’s marriage to wife Victoria may have collapsed when she had to read sordid revelations about the rugby star’s sexual past in his autobiography, friends claim
Wild: Victoria, 42, admitted she had reservations about some of the lurid content in Who Am I?, released in September, in which the former England ace, 36, bragged about sleeping with three women a day ‘from porn stars to actresses to girls I meet at the coffee shop’ at a time when ‘threesomes became the norm’
Oopsy: Danny released a statement to announce the news, telling his Instagram followers that he ‘wished only the best’ for his ex
Fuming: Victoria hit back with this message shortly after he confirmed their split on social media
Who am I? A friend told MailOnline: ‘some of the stories in Danny’s book, especially about his sex life with past lovers, were quite difficult to comprehend when written in black and white for everyone to see’
In August a source said: ‘He will be the piece of the line-up and he is already being talked about and there are shower scenes among the staff working on the programme.
‘There is also huge expectation that he will reveal secrets of his showbiz lifestyle. He has been linked to many women over the years and his scandals are also well documented, so there will be a lot for him to share.
‘But he also has a sense of humor, which makes him popular with his campmates, as well as those watching at home.
“Danny may have settled down now, but he’s still wild at heart. The hope is high that he will reach the final.’
Danny – who has been linked to the late Caroline Flack, Lindsay Lohan and television presenter Kirsty Gallacher – is said to receive at least double what This Morning’s Josie Gibson is to be paid for his appearance on I’m A Celebrity.
But it appears his ‘wild’ ways prevented this and resulted in the breakdown of his marriage to the mental health activist turned grandmother in 2020 – shortly before they got married.
A friend told MailOnline: ‘Victoria knew dating a high-profile sportsman would put an unwanted focus on their relationship.
‘However, some of the stories in Danny’s book, especially about his sex life with past lovers, were quite difficult to comprehend when written in black and white for all to see.’
The source added: ‘The marriage was never the same after that.’
Their marriage collapsed when she was forced to read sordid revelations about the rugby star’s sexual past in his autobiography, friends claim.
They took their relationship to task two weeks ago after a series of ‘difficult’ arguments over text messages on his phone, MailOnline exclusively revealed.