Celebrity Traitors winner Romesh Ranganathan has responded to the backlash over his £83,000 charity win, revealing why he believes the criticism has actually had a positive effect.
The comedian and fellow winner Sebastian ‘Bash’ Croft each secured £41,500 for their chosen charities in the October 30 finale.
Romesh picked the Refugee Council, while Bash supported Choose Love. Their choices sparked criticism from some commentators, who argued the money should have gone to causes such as homelessness or veterans’ charities.
Speaking on the November 8 episode of The Sunday Scaries with Bash Croft, Romesh explained why he thinks the backlash may have encouraged more people to defend their decision.
Why Romesh says Celebrity Traitors backlash had a positive side
Romesh believes the criticism has attracted more attention than the support they received.
“The voices that are angry about it have been amplified because that’s the fun angle, right?” he said.
However, he pointed out that plenty of people had defended the pair’s decision.
Romesh said the backlash had “galvanised the people who think it’s a lovely thing.”
Romesh believes the discussion has done some good. “I think that back and forth has actually been really positive,” he said.
The comedian then explained why he chose the Refugee Council, revealing that his involvement began with frustration over how refugees were being discussed.
He said he had grown tired of negative rhetoric about refugees and the way they were being demonised.
Romesh said refugees were being used as a “distraction tactic,” with people being encouraged to blame them for wider problems.
He also clarified that he and Bash had not coordinated their charity choices. The fact that both selected refugee organisations was simply a coincidence.
How Bash Croft reacted to the Celebrity Traitors charity backlash
Bash also admitted that the negative reaction had caught him off guard.
The Heartstopper actor, who previously volunteered with Choose Love, explained that neither contestant had discussed their preferred charities before the finale.
They had not expected to win, making the discovery that they had chosen similar causes even more special.
But that excitement soon gave way to disappointment when their decision attracted criticism.
Bash questioned why donating money to vulnerable people had caused such anger.
“Imagine how difficult it is for those people navigating that system,” he said.
The actor suggested that the response to a television prize offered a troubling glimpse into the challenges refugees face.
Romesh, who is a patron of the Refugee Council, chose to support its work helping refugees rebuild their lives in Britain.
Meanwhile, Bash selected Choose Love, which provides assistance to refugees and displaced communities, including LGBTQ+ people.
Despite the controversy, both winners have stood by their chosen causes, with Romesh viewing the public response as an opportunity for more people to speak up in their support.
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