THE Apprentice has been accused of racism after Lord Sugar fired a fourth black and ethnic minority (BAME) candidate in a row.
Contestant Lubna Farham was be fired from the competition this week, making her the fourth BAME person to be sacked. Shahin Hassan was sacked in week one, Kenna Ngoma in week two and Souleyman Bah in week three.
Fans immediately took to Twitter to express their disappointment.
One tweeted: "Another #BAME contestant gone. Think they can officially call that place #thewhitehouse #TheApprentice."
Another tweeted: "Sorry, is this the fourth week in a row that a person of colour has been eliminated? If they'd been clearly to blame for the task failures it might be fair enough - but they weren't and Sugar looks suspiciously as though he might be racist."
The Apprentice has denied racism allegations, saying the candidates' performance determines whether they stay or go.
This comes amidst amid another racism row involving contestant Lottie Lion.
Before the show's current series began airing, Lion allegedly called Farhan - who has Pakistani heritage - as “Gandhi” in a WhatsApp group chat.
Fired contestant Bah has accused producers for failing to intervene when he experienced racism on the show.
During a conversation with last year’s winner Sian Gabbidon on her The Wake Up Call podcast, Bah said: “I think there were comments that, you know, yeah... I won’t get into the details of it, but I think it was definitely what it was.
“I will counter that by saying it was ignorance, really. It’s definitely ignorant racism. I think there’s blatant racism and then there’s ignorant racism. I think my beef isn’t with the perpetrator per se; its more for what’s been done about it. It seems that I’m still waiting for the outcome.”
A spokesperson for The Apprentice said: "Which candidates return to the boardroom at the end of a task - and are therefore in the firing line - is determined by being on the losing team, and the project manager of that task deciding to take them back into the boardroom.
"The candidate's performance both on the task and in the boardroom are then key to Lord Sugar's decision."
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire
Rahul Bhatt sparks controversy over 'insensitive' remarks about sisters Alia and Pooja Bhatt
Rahul Bhatt, fitness trainer and son of veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following controversial remarks about his half-sister, Alia Bhatt. In a recent interview, Rahul drew comparisons between Alia and their older sister Pooja Bhatt, calling the latter more talented, attractive, and principled.
The comments, which many have labelled inappropriate and insensitive, have sparked widespread criticism online. During the interview, Rahul stated, “In my opinion, she (Alia) is not even half of what my real sister Pooja is. Not in talent, not in looks, not in terms of being sexy. In front of my sister, she is ‘paani kam chai’ (watery tea). Amongst the siblings, the most talented and the most moralistic is Pooja.”
Social media users reacted strongly, questioning why Rahul would compare his sisters in such personal terms. Several users were particularly disturbed by his reference to their appearance and sex appeal, pointing out that such comparisons within a family cross boundaries of propriety. One comment read, “This is disturbing. Why talk about your sisters like that? It’s not just weird, it’s wrong.” Another post said, “There’s nothing respectful about comparing your siblings’ attractiveness in public.”
The backlash also reignited conversation around a decades-old controversy involving Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Rahul was asked about the infamous 1990s magazine cover where the father-daughter duo shared a kiss, which had stirred public outrage at the time. Dismissing the criticism, Rahul said, “It doesn’t make any difference. It’s like water off a duck’s back. We know the truth, and we’ve seen everything since childhood.”
Rahul’s casual dismissal of that controversy has added fuel to the fire, with critics saying it reflects a broader issue of the Bhatt family being insensitive to public perception and boundaries. Many users questioned the need for bringing up old incidents in a bid to defend new and equally questionable statements.
As of now, neither Alia Bhatt nor Pooja Bhatt has issued any public response to Rahul’s remarks. Both actors, known for their significant contributions to Indian cinema, have typically kept family matters private despite living in the public eye.
This episode has also sparked debate over the role of public figures in maintaining respect when discussing family matters in the media. Observers say such comments, especially when involving women’s appearance and personal qualities, reinforce problematic attitudes and fuel unnecessary controversies.
While Rahul Bhatt is not as prominent in the entertainment industry as his father or sisters, his comments have made headlines and placed the Bhatt family in the spotlight for reasons beyond their creative work. For many, this serves as a reminder that public platforms come with responsibility, and that family ties should not be trivialised or dissected for attention or comparison.
The backlash is unlikely to subside soon, especially as fans and followers of Alia and Pooja continue to express disappointment over the way the situation has unfolded. Whether or not Rahul chooses to clarify or apologise remains to be seen.