The Apprentice Viewers Raise Concerns After Fourth BAME Contestant In A Row Is Fired

The BBC has insisted that all candidates are judged fairly.
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Viewers of The Apprentice have called out the show after another BAME contestant was fired from the BBC series.

Every week since the series began earlier this month, a BAME candidate has found themselves axed from the boardroom – despite claims from some fans they were not the worst performing in the tasks.

Lord Sugar on The Apprentice
Lord Sugar on The Apprentice
BBC

The most recent episode, which aired on Wednesday night, saw finance manager Lubna Farhan fired after her apparent lack of contribution in the challenge to create a new type of electric bike to sell to retailers.

Prior to her exit, Souleyman Bah, Kenna Ngoma and Shahin Hassan were all sent packing.

Clockwise: Lubna Farhan, Kenna Ngoma, Shahin Hassan and Souleyman Bah
Clockwise: Lubna Farhan, Kenna Ngoma, Shahin Hassan and Souleyman Bah
BBC

After Lubna’s exit scenes aired, some fans claimed to have spotted a pattern in this year’s firings...

I can’t believe how easy it is to spot the person to be sacked. BAME = Fired. Mouthy White market trader = Hired. #ApprenticeRacism

— Wilfred the Hairy (@WilfredTheHairy) October 23, 2019

Another BAME contestant fired on the apprentice... WHAT A SURPRISE!! #Apprentice

— FARULINHO (@FarulMiah) October 23, 2019

@bbcapprentice another week and another ethnic minority is fired, even though they weren’t the worst candidate. Come on BBC #Apprentice #BAME

— Somia Shafiq (@somiashafiq) October 23, 2019

Just watched The Apprentice ,has anyone else noticed the 1st four casualties are ,how can I say this without being sued , not white(2 Black 2 Asian),if the South American girl goes next week there is definitely a pattern #YesLordSugar #JustSayin

— Paul Edwards (@paultreble99) October 23, 2019

All of the BAME candidates are going without even getting a chance to prove themselves @bbcapprentice

— Gary Dhaliwal (@Gaz_Dhaliwal) October 23, 2019

Does anyone else notice something a little “brexity” in #TheApprentice this year with the eliminations or is everything all white...? I mean alright!

NB. Every single person eliminated since episode one have been POC. #TheApprentice2019 #yourefired @bbcapprentice

— Lee (@ekoagogo) October 23, 2019

Just watched the Apprentice and can't believe the fourth BAME candidate has been fired. Not acceptable.

— Tracey Saunderson (@T_Saunderson) October 23, 2019

I wonder what the first 4 candidates to be fired have in common... #Theapprentice pic.twitter.com/nxbey10osm

— LaraBadger #FBPE (@LaraBadger1) October 23, 2019

After her departure, Luba said she felt the show had not reflected her efforts in the task.

She told Bang Showbiz: “I did contribute but that wasn’t shown. I didn’t make sales but Scarlett (Allen-Horton) was given three opportunities to make sales. She’s a better salesperson than me but she didn’t make any sales either.

“I contributed to every element of the task, I wasn’t loud, I was just myself. Just because I’m an introvert doesn’t mean I can’t become Lord Sugar’s business partner.”

It is not the first time that this series of The Apprentice has hit the headlines.

Lottie Lion was accused of racism by one of her fellow contestants
Lottie Lion was accused of racism by one of her fellow contestants
BBC

Contestant Lottie Lion was accused of racism by a fellow contestant with claims she’d told them to “shut up, Gandhi” in a WhatsApp group message with the other candidates.

Lottie later insisted that she was not being racist, claiming the group had previously been sharing quotes from Gandhi prior to her comment.

The Apprentice continues next Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.

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