Holly Robinson Peete says then-Celebrity Apprentice host Donald Trump called her the N-word when she appeared as a contestant on the NBC series.
The actress and activist made the claim Tuesday on SiriusXM Urban View’s “The Karen Hunter Show.” During the interview, Peete recalled the moment when she believes Trump used the racial slur on the finale of the third celebrity season of his reality show.
“Shortly after the finale, rumors started going around that he had tossed out an N-word in referring to me. And I was like, ‘Huh?’ And then when the producer told me when it happened during the finale. I remember the moment,” the Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper star told the radio show.
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Peete competed against Poison frontman Bret Michaels ten years ago in the Celebrity Apprentice finale, which Michaels ultimately won.
“I wasn’t in earshot, but I could see them deciding between me and Bret Michaels,” she continued. “There was a moment where [Trump] was talking with producers and they’re really animated and that was when I heard that he said, ‘They want the N-word to win.’ Because I guess the network wanted me to win or me to be chosen, and Trump wanted Bret. And the quote was, ‘They want the N-word to win.’”
Peete also shared in the interview that she signed up for the show after being motivated by the possibility of winning money for her charity.
“It was a very interesting experience… I went all the way to the finale. Which I didn’t quote ‘win,’ but I out-raised the other guys 2-1. I won $600,000 on the show for HollyRod Foundation for autism,” she explained.
The actress added that working with Trump was challenging.
“So it was a trip and kind of messy and stuff. I found [Trump] to be kind of piggish and bullish and stuff, but I didn’t find him to be just this… who he is now,” Peete said.
Watch the interview below.
