SHE was all set to make her return to the limelight after leaving the jungle to a flurry of new fans.
But Tulisa Contostavlos’ exit has been shrouded in mystery after she swiftly deleted all her I’m A Celebrity posts and refused to appear on Unpacked.
Just hours later she boarded a flight to head home amid rumours of a rift with her best Michelle McKenna.
Now, The Sun can reveal the truth behind her sudden departure – and it’s got nothing to do with her friendship.
A source close to the I’m A Celebrity star told us: “Tulisa was pretty miffed and utterly baffled by the suggestion she had fallen out with Michelle – they are as close as ever.
“They have flown back to the UK together and have been laughing about all the speculation.
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“The truth of the matter is that Tulisa was struggling with her mental health, which is what she told fans.
"She wanted to be back at home, with her close friends and home comforts, and after a meeting with ITV, it was agreed by all parties that this would be the best thing for her.
“It’s nothing more than that, despite what people are saying.
“ITV have offered her a full duty of care package and she’ll be back to her best in no time.”
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Tulisa’s spokesperson told us: “There has been absolutely no fall out between Tulisa and her best friend Michelle.
"They haven't argued once since Tulisa left the jungle. Michelle in fact travelled back to London with Tulisa.
“This story has been completely fabricated and wasn't even sent to Tulisa's team for a chance to comment prior to publication.
“The decision for Tulisa to return home to the UK was agreed to by the production for welfare reasons.”
Tulisa posted on social media insisting there was no issue with Michelle.
She told her followers: "Absolutely no issue with my sis's posts.
"I haven't argued with my best mate in over 10 years.
"We literally don't have arguments, they don't exist in our world. Only love."
She went on to add: "Same with my bro. That's what makes us so strong and my soul fam so special to me.
"But leave my Shelly and Dan alone pls x."
Speculation went into overdrive following Tulisa's axe on Monday night and she went silent for 24 hours.
She later resurfaced and told fans she was feeling ‘overwhelmed’, explaining: "You know, it's okay to feel a little bit overwhelmed. I've been out of the spotlight for a long time.
"I'm still trying to overcome those things. I've still got my little demons.
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"It doesn't mean I'm going to go hide under a rock for the next 10 years.
"It means I just need a little bit of time to just process and get right with my thoughts."
Tulisa's Insta post in full
I'm just doing a little video to clear a couple things up. Just so you know, when I came out of the jungle, I felt fine first of all.
Then that evening my friends went to bed, I was on my Instagram trying to have a nice little scroll at some funny stuff.
I was getting a lot of attention, a lot of bombarding in all the most positive way.
But because it's been a while for me I can get overwhelmed quite easily.
And I just started to feel overwhelmed. I thought do you know what, I really just need to take a bit of time for me and just chill.
This is all feeling just a little bit much at the moment. I'm just going to archive all my stuff to do with the jungle.
Then when the time is right and I've had a little time to process I'm going to make my own reels of all my best bits I really like.
Because remember I haven't been doing my Instagram, the way everything is posted is not the way I would do my Insta.
I would have one or two really good reels relating to the jungle and bringing together my time in there.
I just wanted to clear up the reasons why that I did that and just be honest.
You know, it's okay to feel a little bit overwhelmed. I've been out of the spotlight for a long time and I'm still trying to overcome those things.
I've still got my little demons. It doesn't mean I'm going to go hide under a rock for the next 10 years.
It means I just need a little bit of time to just process and get right with my thoughts.
Thank you to ITV and I'm a Celeb for being so patient with me and, you know, mental health is important.
Thanks for all the love and support I've had. I just get a bit overwhelmed - I'm a bit of an introvert guys.
I've been in the jungle with people I'd only just met for two and a half weeks straight.
Then I've come out, I've seen loads and loads of attention and I'm like woah, this is a lot.
And I just needed a little bit of a breather. And also I just want to clarify I do not think that any of my campmates are fake.
I was having a conversation on Lorraine and what I was trying to say was is that everyone in there is going to have one or two individuals they're way more close with than others.
When we get out is when we're going to see those friendships nurtured, and going to be friend for life.
I love my jungle buddies, but there's going to be friendships people have that become something like 'Wow this is going to be my friend for life'.
That's all I was trying to say.