"My time on the show will come to end tonight."
Dr Asif Munaf, a controversial contestant from the 2024 series of The Apprentice has been dropped from the spin-off show You’re Fired.
The edited version of You’re Fired will air on Thursday, February 15, 2024.
Asif was accused of making a “stream of anti-Jewish comments” on social media.
As a result, he received a diversity and inclusion training course from the BBC before The Apprentice aired.
However, the doctor continued to make such remarks. Consequently, people began calling for the doctor to be removed from the series, after appearing in the first two episodes.
Danny Cohen, the former director of BBC Television, said:
“The BBC’s inaction sends a message.
“You can be racist towards Jews and there are no consequences.
“You can enjoy fame on the BBC even if you are the kind of person whose views painfully remind Jewish viewers of Nazi propaganda.
“Once again, the Jewish community has been failed by the BBC.”
Commenting on his departure, Asif explained:
“My time on the show will come to end tonight.
“But this is just the beginning.”
He also wrote on X: “Alhamdulillah for the journey. Alhamdulillah for the memories.
“Thanks to the lobby, for the first time in the show’s history we know the outcome of the episode.
“Alhamdulillah. So join me on TikTok Live tonight at 10 pm SHARP as I discuss my time on the show.”
Alhamdulillah for the journey. Alhamdulillah for the memories
Thanks to the lobby, for the first time in the show's history we know the outcome of the episode
Alhamdulillah
So join me on TikTok Live tonight @ 10pm SHARP as I discuss my time on the showhttps://t.co/5YpGc6efKz
— Dr Asif Munaf (@DrAsifOfficial) February 15, 2024
A BBC spokesperson for the show confirmed the news of Asif’s exit from You’re Fired:
“We can confirm that the individual concerned will not feature as a guest on any additional upcoming BBC content relating to The Apprentice.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews issued a statement, expecting an apology from the BBC:
“Following the board of deputies president’s urgent letter to the BBC director-general Tim Davie and the BBC chairman this morning, we have been notified that the BBC has significantly edited all content relating to BBC 2’s You’re Fired concerning Asif Munaf.
“We hope that the BBC will apologise publicly to the Jewish community for their handling of this sorry situation and send the people responsible for antisemitism awareness training.”
Asif previously apologised for his offensive comments. He said:
“It was not my intention to offend anyone, and I am of course open to all views.”
“The beliefs I hold and have shared are based on the values that I was brought up with.”
The reality show, led by Lord Alan Sugar, is next set to broadcast its third challenge.
Asif and his team of boys have lost the first two tasks of The Apprentice.
In the second challenge, Asif found himself in the bottom three.
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