Former contestant Gene Folkes has come forward with allegations of racially insensitive behavior by Donald Trump during his time on “The Apprentice,” a hit reality TV show that launched Trump’s political career. Folkes claims that Trump used racially insensitive words towards him and got a cease-and-desist letter from NBC. Another former producer has also alleged that Trump used a racist slur to refer to a Black contestant on the show. The Trump campaign has vehemently denied these claims, calling them false and politically motivated.
Folkes shared his experience of being fired by Trump and then being consoled by a Black crew member, who Trump made racially insensitive comments about. Trump allegedly made a comment insinuating that he did not use a racial slur towards them before walking away. The Trump campaign spokesperson dismissed Folkes’ claims as fabrications that were debunked in 2016. Additionally, allegations have surfaced about Trump using a racist slur to refer to a Black finalist on the show. The former producer who made this claim stated that the conversation was recorded, but the Trump campaign denied these allegations.
During the airing of “The Apprentice,” many cast and crew members signed NDAs, limiting their ability to discuss their experiences on the show. Questions have arisen about the existence of footage capturing Trump’s behavior on the show, as many former members are bound by contractual agreements. The show’s archive is owned by MGM, which was acquired by Amazon, and the executive producer has stated that he does not have the right to release any unaired footage. Trump faced similar allegations during his 2016 campaign, including controversial remarks he made about women.
Trump has faced accusations of racism throughout his career, including a 1973 discrimination lawsuit and his promotion of the conspiracy theory that Barack Obama was not born in the United States. Biden’s campaign has highlighted the recent allegations against Trump, with a TikTok video featuring the claims of former contestants and aides. The video emphasizes the idea that Trump is a lifelong racist and calls for Black voters to reject him in the upcoming election. Trump has previously dismissed criticism from ex-contestants as motivated by greed and has a history of pushing back against allegations of racism.
