A TV executive who worked onThe Apprenticejust came forward to reveal the truth about how producers manipulated and misled viewers into thinking Donald Trump was a successful businessman.The Apprenticelaunched in 2004as a unique take on the reality competition show format. Business leaders and entrepreneurs from around the country competed to work for the Trump Organization.Trump was fired in 2015 after he made xenophobic comments about immigrantswhile launching his presidential campaign.Trump used the successful business leader personathatThe Apprenticecreated to help get him elected in 2016.
A marketing executive wrote an op-ed to reveal the truth about producer manipulation that allegedly took place onThe Apprenticewith host Donald Trump.
John D. Miller, a former chief marketer for NBC, just opened up about the false perception people had about Trump because ofThe Apprenticeand revealed whether he regrets going along with it. In an op-ed forU.S. News & World Report,John kicked off his remarks by apologizing to America for helping “create a monster.“He admitted that producers “created” a “narrative” about Trump as a “super-successful businessman who lived like royalty.” In reality, Trump has declared bankruptcy multiple times, both before and whileThe Apprenticewas on the air.
John claimed that the main reason Trump agreed to star onThe Apprenticewas because he had “plenty of time” for filming and loved the spotlight, andthe show allowed people to believe he was more successful than he actually was. CEOs who were far more accomplished than Trump “were too busy” for reality TV. He added, “I never imagined that the picture we painted of Trump as a successful businessman would help catapult him to the White House.”
John noted thatwhenThe Apprenticewas on the air, he would constantly boast that the reality show was the number one show in America. “But it wasn’t. Not that week. Not that season. I had the rating in front of me,” John explained. Trump was told that the claim was a lie, but he kept saying it anyway.
What The Apprentice Executive’s Admission Means For Reality TV
Reality TV Is Known For Manipulating Viewers
It’s no secret that reality TV show producers manipulate storylinesand create certain perceptions of cast members through deceptive editing. Franchises likeReal HousewivesandBelow Deck, for example, are constantly called out for alleged producer manipulation. On the currently airingGolden Bachelorette, there’s been speculation thatMark Anderson is a producer plant. OnBig Brother 26, which just concluded,Angela Murray’s outlandish behavior caused rumorsto grow that she, too, was a producer plant.
Competition shows face similar situations. The performance order onAmerican IdolandThe Voicecan have a huge impact on contestants' ability to earn enough votes to advance to the next round. During the auditions, sob stories are heavily featured to get viewers to root for certain contestants. Soit doesn’t come as a surprise that producers manipulated aspects ofThe Apprentice, including Trump’s own story as a business leader.
Our Take On The Apprentice Executive’s Stunning Apology
It’s not easy for someone like John to apologizefor creating a situation that he says got out of control. He provided numerous examples of howThe Apprenticeallegedly manipulated viewers and how the show itself has fake elements to it, like many other reality shows. Nowadays, it’s hard to find a reality show that hasn’t been accused of producer manipulation or interference. WhenThe Apprenticedebuted, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok didn’t exist. Now there are larger platforms to showcase injustices, call out lies and try to set the record straight.
The Apprentice
Cast
The Apprentice is a reality television series that tested the business savvy of a group of contestants as they attempted to complete tasks that showcased their skills. The show aired for 15 seasons, and starred former president Donald Trump as the host for the first 14. Arnold Schwarzenegger took over as host during The Apprentice season 15. Some of the seasons were called The Celebrity Apprentice, and featured famous stars as the contestants.
