'Celebrity' source: Heidi wasn't tortured

LOS ANGELES, June 8 (UPI) -- Rumors claiming Heidi and Spencer Pratt were mistreated on the Costa Rican set of "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" are untrue, a show source said.

The married reality TV personalities -- who are known in the press as Speidi -- quit "Celebrity" last week, but later campaigned to return to the competition series.

NBC said they were housed in the show's "Lost Chamber" until their fates were decided. Episodes showing what happened to them are expected to air this week.

"I'm really saddened to hear that NBC felt it was OK to punish Speidi so harshly -- and torture them as if they were criminals -- that Heidi was ... rushed to the hospital and has an IV in her arm after being locked in a dark room for three days with no food or water. Please pray she will be OK," Usmagazine.com said Stephanie Pratt, Heidi's sister-in-law, wrote in an Internet posting Saturday.

"Any accusations that Spencer and Heidi were harmed are untrue," a show insider told Usmagazine.com, adding the couple were given food and water during the 14 hours or so they spent in the "Lost Chamber." "There was no danger, no life-threatening situations -- in fact, they were actually protected from the elements, unlike the other contestants," the source noted. "When they came out, they were happy and in good spirits."

"ITV has been producing this format around the world for many years and the health of the celebrity participants are of the utmost importance," the show's producers said in a statement.