Matt Zukowski broke down in tears during Wednesday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! for a heartbreaking reason.
By JIMMY BRIGGS, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER
Published: 07:26 EDT, 28 January 2026 | Updated: 23:03 EDT, 28 January 2026
Matt Zukowski broke down in tears during Wednesday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! for a heartbreaking reason.
The Love Island Australia star and influencer, 30, became emotional as he told fellow contestant Rachel Hunter that he was really missing being able to speak to his mother, Janine.
'Missing Mum is probably the thing that's killing me most... I call her if I have some sort of issue. I call her and she talks me off a ledge, calms me down as mums do. It's hard not being able to do that,' Matt admitted.
'I know what she would say, but I know that will make me cry though. It will make me too sad.'
Matt was then seen covering his face with his hand as he loudly wept, admitting to producers that being away from his mother was taking a huge toll on his well-being.
'Has my mum reached out to you? Whenever I have a hard time I just call my mum. She talks me off the ledge and I feel better. She got me through the last year of everything,' he tearfully said.
Matt Zukowski broke down in tears during Wednesday night's episode of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! for a heartbreaking reason
Matt is competing on the gruelling Channel Ten reality TV series alongside international model Rachel Hunter, The Brady Bunch star Barry Williams and Married At First Sight veteran Cyrell Paule.
Earlier this month, Matt spoke out about his ex-wife Tammy Hembrow's romance with Bailey Smith.
Tammy and Matt called time on their marriage in June 2025. In August, Tammy, 31, was spotted kissing the AFL star.
Matt appeared on The Kyle and Jackie O Show and told the hosts he was surprised to see Tammy move on so soon after their split.
'I don't think jealousy is the right word,' began Matt.
'I was doing my own healing process, and when I saw that, I was like, "Oh, okay."
'No one likes to see the person they used to love and be married to hooking up with someone else,' he added.
'That's a knife to anyone's chest, man,' he continued.
The Love Island Australia star and influencer became emotional as he told fellow contestant Rachel Hunter that he was really missing being able to speak to his mother, Janine
Matt admitted to producers that being away from his mother was taking a huge toll on his well-being. Pictured with his mother
Matt then revealed if he was still in contact with Tammy following their split.
'I haven't spoken to her since we announced we were divorced. So, no contact at all,' he said.
'I don't think I'm the first person in history to think that a marriage is going to fix the problems in a relationship. And like I said, it didn't. It just progressively got worse.'
Matt and Tammy got engaged in December 2023 after just three months of dating.
They tied the knot almost a year later, in November 2024, but split rumours began to circulate last year.
In June, the pair announced they were divorcing after just seven months of marriage.
Tammy was later photographed kissing the AFL star.
The Geelong Cats later star appeared on the Today show and insisted the pair are 'just friends'.
He went on to explain that Tammy, who is six years his senior, has become an older, wiser mentor.