Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he won’t be back for The New Celebrity Apprentice’s second season on Friday. The actor and former Governor was not short to say that the main reason for his decision is Donald Trump. In an interview with Empire magazine, Schwarzenegger explained his decision and blaimed Trump for the show’s declining ratings.
The New Celebrity Apprentice.
Arnold Schwarzenegger hosted a complete season of The New Celebrity Apprentice. NBC announced it during the early stage of Trump’s campaign in 2015, that the actor would take in as host since Trump was running for President.During his hosting, the actor even delivered a new catchphrase, “Let’s get down to business.”. The actor was joined by Tyra Banks and his nephew Patrick Knapp Schawzanegger as advisers.
Unfortunately, the ratings were not so good. The season ended in mid-February with a down rating of 48% compared to the previous season finale hosted by Trump. In December, Variety reported that Trump would retain an executive producer credit on the show which made the poor ratings even poorer and efforts to promote the show even more controversial.
Hasta la vista, baby.
On Friday, Arnold announced that he’s not hosting the show and won’t be back for good. He told Empire magazine, “I learned a lot, I had a great time, it was a really great opportunity, but under the circumstances, I don’t want to do it again.”
The actor then specified that Trump has everything to do with his decision. “It’s not about the show because everyone I ran into came up to me and said ‘I love the show … but I turned it off because as soon as I read Trump’s name I’m outta there!’,” he said.
He added, “Everyone — from the celebrities to the crew to the marketing department — was a straight 10, and I would absolutely work with all of them again on a show that doesn’t have this baggage.” The actor then clarified that the baggage he was making reference to was Trump’s association with the show.
Boycotting The Apprentice.
Despite NBC’s effort to promote the show, people started boycotting it according to Arnold. In the interview, he added, “With Trump being involved in the show people have a bad taste and don’t want to participate as a spectator or as a sponsor or in any other way support the show.”
In January Kawasaki pulled out of a sponsorship deal for the show stating that the company sought to “remain neutral in regards to American politics.”
No question about it, ratings have everything to do with Trump and the political climate after all The Apprentice has everything to do with Trump in the sense that it’s identified with his personality and his person.
Public feud.
Arnold and Trump have been in a public feud since last January when the president turned to Twitter to blame Arnold for the show’s poor ratings.
Arnold responded calling Trump to work for ALL the Americans and wished him the best luck
In February Trump struck again.
The Governor responded tweeting some of his achievements during his time in California.
Source: Mashable