- David Ortega's Transition from Charmer to Troubled Jungle Creature
After merely two days in the wilderness camp, David Ortega's tenure came to an end: He was ousted from the RTL program "I'm a Star – Jungle Legend Showdown" by the majority vote of his fellow contestants. His two days were filled with non-stop arguments. The 38-year-old was seeking conflict from the get-go.
Even on the first night, Daniela Buchner voiced her concern: "If we could vote today, Daniel might be out." The next day, Ingo Scheel, a critic from the stern magazine nicknamed "Bart Schimpfson," escalated the situation by collectively berating the group: "You're wrong. You're a disgrace. Be ashamed."
The fallout was swift: Just like in his first appearance in the Jungle Camp in 2016, Ortega was the first to be voted off the show. In 2016, it was the viewers who sent him packing, but this time, it was his fellow contestants who did the honors directly.
David Ortega's Jungle Camp Adventures
Comparing his 2016 stint to his current one provides a glimpse into David Ortega Arenas' evolution. Back then, he was the young and vibrant actor who gained fame for his role in the TV serial "Cologne 50667" since 2013.
Born in Dortmund in 1985 to Spanish parents, Ortega seemed to have a bright future ahead of him. He completed high school, pursued architecture, and modeled on the side. His good looks and sharp intellect made him an attractive prospect for TV. In 2011, he debuted on TV as a participant in the reality show "Big Brother," and the following year, he joined the casting show "Austria's Next Top Model." In 2013, he started his acting career in "Cologne 50667," and in 2016, he participated in the Jungle Camp for the first time.
However, his career took a downturn in the following years. The heartthrob, as he was known on his Instagram, was no longer showcasing a toned body. Instead, he started posting pictures of himself with a bushy beard, long, untamed hair, and an noticeable weight gain. "Unfamiliar, but I love myself this way," he commented on his new look.
The viewers got a glimpse of Ortega's transformation in 2021. After five years away from TV, the actor appeared on RTL's "Jungle Show" as a guest, reminiscing about his 2016 Jungle Camp experience. What stood out to the viewers more than his new look were his incoherent monologues, where he rambled about psychological violence, the German economy, and over 2,000 years of history.
An interview with the "Bravo" magazine a year later saw Ortega denying rumors of homelessness but admitted to being in a debt collection phase due to "psychological reasons." In the same interview, he dismissed rumors of drug or alcohol dependence.
But it's clear to all viewers of the summer Jungle Camp that Ortega is still struggling. On Instagram, he received words of comfort from a follower for his early exit: "It's not the black sheep that's different, but the whites are all the same."
Sources: "bravo.de", Instagram
Transparent Disclosure: stern is part of RTL Germany.
Despite his tumultuous behavior in the jungle camp, David Ortega expressed a desire to return to the show in the future, stating, "I'll be back, stronger and wiser." However, the producers of "I'm a Star – Jungle Legend Showdown" may have second thoughts about allowing him back, considering his contentious past performances.
In the midst of Ortega's dramatic departure from the jungle camp, some contestants began to bond and found solace in each other's company. Daniela Buchner and Ingo Scheel, in particular, formed a close bond, often supporting and uplifting one another during the challenges and difficult moments.
