Former Gladiators star Giant, whose real name is Jamie Bigg, has been accused by his ex-girlfriend, OnlyFans model Taylor Ryan, of ending their relationship over the phone and taking his iconic blue and red Gladiators costume with him when he left their shared home. Ryan, 28, claims Bigg, 40, left behind most of his clothes but specifically retrieved the costume and memorabilia from the BBC show, suggesting he may be positioning himself for a return to the series.
Relationship breakdown and accusations
In an interview with The Sun, Ryan detailed the painful end to their relationship, revealing that they had discussed marriage and children before things fell apart. She described the relationship as 'a fake,' stating, 'He wants to get back on the show now. He’s left loads of clothes at my house, but just taken his blue and red Gladiators costume and memorabilia.' She added, 'At the time, he was portrayed as a noble man who fights for what he believes in. But deep down, it was never what he believed in. It’s hard to talk about now because I see the full picture and I’m like, it was all just fake. He has a lot of demons he needs to fight in his own head before he ruins another woman’s peace.'
Ryan had previously aired her grievances on Instagram, posting a photo with the caption, 'You finally feel so chosen. He broke up with me because of my job anyway.' In a follow-up post, she wrote, 'Trauma dump anyone? If you don’t bloody laugh about it, you’ll cry. Luckily, I do both.' She also described the situation as 'pretty painful' and admitted she was 'blindsided' by the breakup.
Context of Giant's exit from Gladiators
Giant's departure from Gladiators was announced in April, sparking widespread disappointment among fans who called him 'their favourite' and said they were 'absolutely gutted.' Bigg attributed his exit to his girlfriend's occupation as an OnlyFans creator, a claim that Ryan has now refuted. Speaking to Metro at the time, Bigg expressed surprise at the BBC's decision, saying, 'I wasn’t expecting that reaction [from the BBC], to be honest. I was expecting more collaboration. Obviously, Taylor is entitled to her private life. We’re doing nothing wrong. And as a big character on the show, I felt like I would have had the backing of the fans and the trusted relationships that I made along the way with the team.'
New Gladiator announced
The BBC has since named Tom Stoltman, the World’s Strongest Man champion, as Giant's replacement, with filming currently underway. Giant responded graciously to the news, telling Metro, 'Tom’s a fantastic person and I know he’ll absolutely smash it on the show. He’s got a heart of gold and will be a brilliant addition to the line-up. I wish him the very best of luck.' He also publicly endorsed Stoltman on Instagram, commenting, 'Well done brother, made up for you, you’ll kick some serious ass,' accompanied by a punching emoji.
Reactions and implications
Ryan's allegations paint a different picture of the breakup, suggesting that Bigg's actions were calculated and that his public persona may not align with his private behavior. The fact that he took his Gladiators costume has fueled speculation that he hopes to rejoin the show, possibly in a future series. Metro has contacted Bigg's representative for comment on the latest claims.
As the story unfolds, fans of Gladiators are left to reconcile their admiration for Giant with the troubling accusations from his ex. The BBC's decision to replace him with Stoltman indicates a forward-looking approach, but the controversy may continue to cast a shadow over the show's new season.
