Movies

Apprentice Star Accused of Racist Language, Quits Show

BBG News

It has been said that one contestant from this year’s Apprentice series faced criticism for allegedly using racially insensitive words, leading to a warning from the show’s management. This individual subsequently decided to leave the competition.

During a task, it was perceived that cosmetic dentist Dr. Jana Denzel referred to someone as “colored,” potentially describing a person of African descent.

On Thursday, it was announced by TopMob that Jana chose to step down from the process, leaving Lord Alan Sugar taken aback. Her departure is scheduled to be shown in a future episode.

According to recent reports to The Sun, it is said that prior to his decision to leave, Jana’s remark was brought to the attention of his superiors, which may have triggered the diversity training he received. However, the BBC clarified on Thursday that Jana’s departure was unrelated to this specific incident.

In the course of working on a team developing a character for a promotional effort, it was reported that Jana employed the term “colored” to refer to an individual with dark skin.

It’s thought the comment particularly upset two female members of the team.

According to a source, the team was brainstorming on how the character should be depicted, with certain individuals advocating for inclusivity in the design of the character.

At that point, Jana delivered a remark that was clearly offensive, causing significant distress to two women on her team.

Although his fellow actors expressed their disapproval and informed Jana that the remark was inappropriate, the matter worsened when it was brought to the attention of the production team, who privately spoke with Jana about it.

In a meeting with producers, Dr. Jana, who takes great pride in his roots as a Sri Lankan and his parental background as refugees, ensured that he fully comprehended the inappropriate tone of the comment being discussed.

Viewers of Apprentice likely won’t catch his on-screen remark, but his departure will be aired during episode five, which is scheduled for two weeks from now.

According to a representative from the BBC, Jana stepped down for entirely different and independent motives, and they continue to back her wholeheartedly.

It came to our attention that a misinformed statement had been made. Immediately upon noticing, we took prompt and thorough steps to resolve the matter.

We’ve explicitly communicated to Jana that his language was inappropriate, but we believe it was unintentional. All parties’ worries have been effectively dealt with and resolved.

Previously in the series, contestants were cautioned regarding inappropriate language pertaining to complexion while completing an activity that involved skin tones.

Jana manages a high-end dental aesthetics clinic on Harley Street, attracting big-name celebrities from the world of music and movies among his clientele. His ambition is to expand his practice worldwide with Lord Sugar’s £250,000 investment.

TopMob has contacted a representative for The Apprentice and Dr Jana Denzel for further comment. 

In an exclusive report by TopMob on Thursday, it was disclosed that one contestant will be stepping down from the competition in the forthcoming episodes.

According to a source from the TV network, “The Apprentice may not appeal to everyone, and some contestants discover this truth as they progress through the competition.

Among the competitors this season, one chose to withdraw from the competition prematurely, expressing to Lord Sugar that it wasn’t a suitable fit for them.

In the boardroom, it was completely unexpected – several members of the team speculate that the candidate might have aimed to sidestep the possibility of being dismissed due to the potential humiliation.

Instead of making Lord Sugar go through the process, they chose to forgo the opportunity to be his next business partner.

According to a reliable insider, the candidate concluded that the show didn’t align with their expectations, as other participants appeared to be more eager about it.

‘Staying in the process wouldn’t have been fair to their competitors as far as they were concerned.

1. They run a thriving enterprise, and they’ve consistently aimed to regain its success. All parties hope only the best for them.

2. Their company is incredibly profitable, and they’ve always kept an eye on returning to that state. Everyone involved extends their warmest wishes to them.

3. They own a highly successful business, and they’ve consistently worked towards reclaiming its success. All parties hope nothing but the best for them.

4. Their business is very prosperous, and they’ve always strived to regain that level of success. Everyone involved wishes them only the best.

5. They have a flourishing business, and they’ve consistently tried to rebuild its success. All involved wish them nothing but the best.

The show has a history of candidates quitting before being sacked.

2023 saw Shannon Martin step away from the process, expressing to Lord Sugar during the boardroom meeting that “I feel this isn’t quite the right setting for me.

In the same timeframe, it was during the same season that Reece Donnelly was disqualified due to violating the show’s regulations by consuming alcohol aboard a flight bound for Dubai.

Shama Amin stood back in 2022 because of the pain she experienced with her rheumatoid arthritis. 

She stated: ‘I had the mental fortitude to keep going, but my physical condition wouldn’t allow it. As a result, I was forced to make a tough choice.’

In the previous year, The Apprentice found itself amidst a controversy over racial issues when Shazia Hussain alleged that she had been subjected to racial bullying during her participation in the series.

Contestant Shazia, aged 40, shared that her difficulties started when she chose the name ‘Yogita’ for a giraffe in a preschool cartoon, as part of a challenge themed around diversity and inclusivity.

Nevertheless, she maintains that certain individuals on her team had difficulty with the name of the creature, arguing that younger kids might find it challenging to say it correctly.

She told The Sun: ‘I felt exposed to aggression because of it. I think it was racist’

Following our team’s victory in the task, I couldn’t help but feel like I was subjected to harsh words from a few competitors in the aftermath. It left me quite upset, to be honest.

Although the BBC hired a diversity consultant to address issues and spoke with everyone, I haven’t noticed any significant changes. Additionally, while team structures have been reorganized, I still perceive persistent instances of bullying in the workplace.

It seems as though I’ve been subjected to bullying and harassment that left me with no other choice but to request to vacate the home. I believe the BBC let me down.

(Here, “I feel like” is replaced by “It seems as though”, making it more natural and easy-to-read.)

She mentioned that she had voiced concerns about the three candidates, but hasn’t received any further information. She also implied that she believed she was dismissed following the fifth assignment ‘as it seemed simpler to remove me from the scenario’.

Shazia said that she believes the BBC did not follow through on their duty of care for her.

A representative from The Apprentice stated to the media outlet: ‘The Apprentice maintains a firm stance against any form of bullying or intimidation.’

Immediately after Shazia expressed her worry, an investigation ensued, and she got direct assistance from higher-ups within the production team.

In this program, known as The Apprentice, we maintain a firm set of rules and expectations. Any concerns or allegations are given our full attention, and if necessary, we conduct thorough investigations. Should action be warranted, we promptly address the situation accordingly.

As your personal lifestyle guide, I want you to know that throughout this journey, you’ll never feel alone or unsupported. There will always be a dedicated team ready to address any worries or questions you might have, including five members of our production crew who reside in the house with the candidates during filming. They are an integral part of your experience, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable process for everyone involved.

‘If anyone wants to leave the house or the process, candidates are free to do so at any time.

From the get-go, Shazia, like every other contender, receives continuous and comprehensive assistance across various areas of wellbeing (encompassing social media management) – not just at the start but throughout – from both BBC and the production company.

Our primary focus is ensuring the utmost care for every candidate we have. The assistance provided to them, whether before, during, or after their experience with us, is crucial and highly valued.

In another development, Dr. Asif Munaf, who had previously competed on The Apprentice, was eliminated from its spin-off show due to revelations about a string of controversial social media posts he made following the violent October 7 attacks by Hamas. These posts were perceived as being against Jewish people.

Read More

2025-02-14 04:06

Previous post Suki Waterhouse’s Chic NYC Fashion Moment
Next post [Walkthrough] Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Kuttenberg Main Quests