'The Apprentice' Latest News: Arnold Schwarzenegger Steps Down as Host
Arnold Schwarzenegger has stepped down as the host of "The New Celebrity Apprentice."
The former California governor issued a statement announcing that he will not be returning to host the reality TV show, which was previously hosted by President Donald Trump.
"I loved every second of working with NBC and Mark Burnett. 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," Schwarzenegger said in the statement.
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"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," Schwarzenegger added. "It's a very divisive period now and I think this show got caught up in all that division," he added.
NBC has yet to comment on Schwarzenegger's decision to terminate his ties to the reality TV competition. It also remains unclear if the show will be picked up for another cycle.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, an NBC rep told them that no decision has been made about the future of the reality series. However, longtime staffers have reportedly been told that it is safe to look for work opportunities outside of the show.
After the "New Celebrity Apprentice" host revealed that he would "decline" to work on the show again if asked, and blamed President Trump's involvement in the show for its poor ratings, the president retaliated by taking to Twitter to say that Schwarzenegger's departure from the series was not voluntary and that he "was fired."
Schwarzenegger took over hosting duties for the show following the departure of President Trump (who served as the show's host from 2008 to 2014) due to his presidential campaign and eventual election. However, Trump stayed on the rebranded reality TV series as executive producer.
The debut season of Schwarzenegger's rebranded "Celebrity Apprentice" drew modest numbers for NBC. The show premiered in January with 4.9 million viewers.
